Heavy Gunfire Near Presidential Palace Shakes Venezuela's Caracas; Drones, Aircraft Sounds Heard

New Delhi: Heavy explosions and gunfire rocked Venezuela's Capital Caracas on Monday night near the Miraflores presidential palace around 8:30 pm local time, triggering lockdowns in streets and deployment of armed forces.

Authorities said the situation was under control, even as tension gripped the nation’s capital. The explosion comes just hours after Vice President Delcy Rodrguez was sworn in on Monday as the country’s interim president, after deposed leader, Nicolas Maduro appeared in a New York federal court on drug-related charges. 

Unidentified drones flew over the Miraflores Palace on Monday evening, prompting security forces to open fire in response, stated media reports.

As per the viral videos doing rounds on social media, loud explosions accompanied by the sound of low-flying aircraft were heard across parts of Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, as per AP news report.

A news outlet quoted the White House as saying that the US was “not involved" in the commotion reported from near Venezuela’s presidential palace.

Although no claims have surfaced,  it was reported that heavy gunfire was heard across parts of Caracas over a period of roughly 45 minutes, including areas close to the presidential palace.

It added that residents also reported possible drone or aircraft noises during the incident and that some neighbourhoods experienced power outages.

The explosions come in the backdrop of the covert US military mission, Operation Absolute Resolve, that plucked Venezuela leader Nicolas Maduro from power and removed him from the country. It was the result of months of surveillance, rehearsals and interagency coordination.

Maduro, Wife Plead ‘Not Guilty’

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared before a New York federal court on Monday, during which a US judge set March 17 as the date for the next hearing in their case, marking the next phase in a highly anticipated legal battle.

Speaking to the court, Maduro identified himself as the president of Venezuela while donning a blue jail uniform. “I am a decent man, the president of my country,” he said, adding, “I was captured.” When asked to enter his plea, Maduro said, “I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here.”

Flores, 69, also confessed not guilty. She introduced herself as Venezuela's first lady and declared herself "completely innocent" of all charges while speaking in Spanish via an interpreter.

What is happening in Venezuela?

The sudden attack and capture of the deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the US forces has pushed the country into extreme chaos, drawing massive anger from the world over.

Notably, the US military carried out the operation in the early hours of Saturday, capturing Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, and flying them to New York to face charges of narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons-related offences. 

The US officials said that Maduro faces narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons-related charges. The operation followed months of intensified US military activity in the region. The charges against Maduro include narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Maduro's lawyer plans to challenge the indictment and his client's arrest, calling it a military abduction. The US government has considered Maduro an illegitimate dictator since his 2018 re-election, which was marred by allegations of vote-rigging.