Gunfire erupted near the presidential palace in Caracas following Maduro's arrest
Venezuela's capital, Caracas, was placed on high alert after gunfire and sporadic explosions were heard near the Miraflores presidential palace around 8:00 PM on Monday (midnight GMT). These rapid developments come amid a climate of anticipation and anxiety gripping the country, according to witnesses who spoke to AFP.
Details of the incident and the unknown marches
Sources close to the Venezuelan government reported that security forces engaged unidentified flying objects, believed to be drones, flying over the restricted area surrounding the presidential palace. The source confirmed that the gunfire heard by residents was the result of ground defenses and presidential guard forces responding to the objects, adding that the situation was brought under complete control shortly after the incident.
In eyewitness accounts from the scene, a resident of an area near the presidential palace said, "It started with a series of sounds like very close explosions after 8:00 PM. Although they weren't as loud as the ones we heard last Saturday, they still caused panic." The witness added, "We rushed to the windows to see what was happening, and all we saw were two red lights moving in the sky for about a minute, while everyone wondered if it was an airstrike or a security operation.".
Context of the event: power vacuum and regional tension
This security incident cannot be separated from the political earthquake that struck Venezuela just two days earlier, namely the announcement by US forces of the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to the United States, in a military operation that followed a violent attack on the capital. This dramatic development has placed the country at a dangerous crossroads, creating a state of political vacuum and military tension, with attention now focused on the internal reactions of the Venezuelan military establishment and the external actions of both allies and adversaries.
Historical background and sensitivity of Miraflores Palace
Miraflores Palace holds immense symbolic significance in recent Venezuelan history, and this incident was not the first of its kind. In 2018, President Maduro survived an alleged assassination attempt using explosive-laden drones during a military parade, which explains the heightened sensitivity and swift, violent reaction of security forces to any flying objects in the area. Venezuela has been mired in a severe economic and political crisis for years, making the capital, Caracas, a constant scene of protests and security tensions.
Expected repercussions
Videos circulating on social media platforms showed what appeared to be flares (tracers) fired by anti-aircraft guns at unseen targets in the sky, followed by a heavy security deployment of law enforcement personnel and armored vehicles in the streets leading to the palace. Observers believe these incidents could signal the beginning of a period of security instability, given the absence of a head of state and attempts by various parties to test the readiness of security forces loyal to the former regime, thus leaving the entire region facing unpredictable scenarios.
