Tensions in Latin America escalated sharply on January 3 after Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as an act of “armed aggression” by the United States against Venezuela, following reports of explosions in Caracas and other parts of the country. The situation took a dramatic turn when US President Donald Trump publicly confirmed that American forces had conducted strikes and claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country.

The alleged attack, which Venezuelan officials say targeted both civilian and military locations, has triggered widespread international concern, reignited debates over US interventionism in the region, and raised fears of a broader geopolitical confrontation involving global powers.

Early on January 3, residents of Venezuela’s capital reported loud explosions and unusual aerial activity, including warplanes, helicopters, and what officials suggested could have been drones. The Venezuelan government swiftly declared a nationwide state of emergency, stating that the country had come under direct military attack.

Foreign Minister Yvan Gil accused Washington of attempting to seize control of Venezuela’s vast natural resources, including its oil reserves, which remain among the largest in the world. According to Gil, the strikes were part of a long-standing strategy by the US to destabilize and overthrow the government in Caracas under various pretexts.

The Venezuelan government said the attacks were not limited to the capital but also struck infrastructure in the nearby states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, further intensifying fears of a coordinated military campaign.

President Maduro, who has repeatedly warned of foreign plots against his administration, has consistently rejected US allegations........

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