Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has declared a state of maximum emergency following intense U.S. airstrikes that targeted the capital, Caracas, as well as civilian and military sites across the country. In an official statement, the Venezuelan government asserted that any attempt to impose a “colonial war” aimed at dismantling the republican system would fail, describing the assault as an “imperialist aggression” primarily intended to seize the country’s strategic resources, especially oil and gas.

According to CBS News, U.S. officials confirmed that President Donald Trump had given the military the “green light” to carry out the operations several days before they began. In a significant development on the ground, local media reported that the residence of Venezuela’s defense minister was bombed at the “Fuerte Tiuna” military complex, with his fate currently unknown.

In response, Venezuelan authorities deployed a joint force of the military, police, and popular militias to safeguard “sovereignty and peace.” The government called on Latin American nations and the global community to mobilize and show solidarity against the attack. Caracas reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter and respect for national sovereignty, warning of the potential consequences this escalation could have on regional stability.