FLASH
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At least seven explosions were heard in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, early Saturday morning, according to reports.
According to the Associated Press, at around 2:00 a.m. local time, planes were seen flying at very low altitudes over Caracas.
The Venezuelan government has accused the United States of "military aggression," stating that it "rejects, condemns and opposes" Washington's actions.
In an official statement, Venezuelan authorities said the US is trying to "appropriate Venezuela's strategic resources, especially oil and minerals," aiming, according to them, to forcibly violate the country's political independence.
"Such aggressive behavior threatens international peace and stability, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, and seriously endangers the lives of millions of people," the statement further said.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) at 01:00 Eastern Standard Time (EST), prohibiting all US aircraft from operating at any altitude within Venezuelan airspace.
The reporting comes at a time when the US military has intensified operations against suspected drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
The country's president, Nicolás Maduro, also claimed that the United States wants to force a change of government in Venezuela and gain access to its vast oil reserves through a months-long pressure campaign that began with a massive military deployment in the Caribbean Sea in August.
Trump gave approval for military strikes
Donald Trump gave the US military the green light to carry out ground attacks in Venezuela, mainly on military installations, just days before today's operation, according to two US officials who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity.
Military officials discussed carrying out the mission on Christmas Day, but US airstrikes in Nigeria against ISIS targets took priority, the sources said.
The days after Christmas presented more potential opportunities for attacks, according to U.S. military officials, but the operation was postponed due to weather conditions. Officials said the U.S. military wanted weather conditions that would be conducive to the success of the mission.
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