Several countries have issued strong condemnations over the United States for its attack on Venezuela early Saturday, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were claimed to have been "captured and flown out of Venezuela."

Venezuela on Saturday denounced the US' "military aggression", after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over its capital Caracas earlier in the day.

The Venezuelan government said the military strike targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states, including Caracas, Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, adding that the US' action blatantly violated the UN Charter.

In a statement, the Venezuelan government said President Nicolas Maduro had "ordered all national defense plans to be implemented" and declared a "state of external disturbance".

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the Organization of American States and the UN to discuss the attack in Venezuela.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned what he described as the "criminal US attack" against Venezuela, demanding an urgent response from the international community.

In a social media post, the president stressed that the region of peace (Latin America) is being brutally assaulted, and labeled the attack as a "state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America."

Expressing its deep concern and condemnation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the United States had committed "an act of armed aggression" against Venezuela.

Iran's Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the military attack, calling it a "flagrant violation" of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a statement, the ministry described the attack as an "act of aggression" and a clear breach of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law prohibiting the use of force against sovereign states.

TEHRAN -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday strongly condemned the US military attack on Venezuela, calling it a "flagrant violation" of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a statement, the ministry described the attack as an "act of aggression" and a clear breach of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law prohibiting the use of force against sovereign states.

Earlier on Saturday, the United States launched a large-scale strike on Venezuela, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of Venezuela," according to a post by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.

Iran reaffirmed Venezuela's right to defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to self-determination, and urged the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibility by immediately halting what it described as a US "invasion" of the country.

The remarks come amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States. On Friday, Tehran said it would "forcefully reject" any interference in its internal affairs after Trump warned that Washington would act if Iran "kills peaceful protesters."

Protests have erupted since Sunday in several Iranian cities over the sharp depreciation of the national currency, the rial.

WASHINGTON -- The US Federal Aviation Administration early Saturday banned US aircraft from flying at any altitude within Venezuelan airspace amid reports of explosions in Caracas, citing safety concerns linked to "ongoing military activity."

The restriction was announced through four Notices to Air Missions issued around 1:00 am Eastern Time (0600 GMT). The advisories cover four flight information regions associated with Venezuela: San Juan, Piarco, Maiquetia, and Curacao.

Low-flying aircraft were spotted, and clouds of smoke were seen following loud explosions early Saturday in Caracas.

US President Donald Trump said Saturday in a Truth Social post that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela.

MOSCOW -- The Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday that the United States committed "an act of armed aggression" against Venezuela, which causes deep concern and condemnation.

US senator says Rubio told him "no further action" now that Maduro is in US custody: media

Venezuela's vice-president says government does not know whereabouts of Maduro and his wife — state TV

HAVANA -- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday condemned what he described as the "criminal US attack" against Venezuela, demanding an urgent response from the international community.

In a social media post, the president said that the region of peace (Latin America) is being brutally assaulted, and "this is state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America."

WASHINGTON  -- US President Donald Trump said Saturday in a Truth Social post that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela.

Trump confirmed that the United States launched "a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro."

"There will be a News Conference today at 11 AM, at Mar-a-Lago," Trump added.

The US Federal Aviation Administration on early Saturday morning barred US aircraft from flying at any altitude within Venezuelan airspace following reports of explosions in Caracas, citing "safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity."

CARACAS -- Venezuela on Saturday denounced a "military aggression" by the United States, after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over the capital Caracas earlier in the day.

The Venezuelan government said that the military strike targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states of the country, including Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, adding that the US action blatantly violated the UN Charter.

Low-flying aircraft were spotted, and clouds of smoke were seen following loud explosion sounds at around 2:00 am (0600 GMT) Saturday in Caracas.

Reports said brief power outages occurred in some areas, including a military base in Caracas.

In the statement, the Venezuelan government said that President Nicolas Maduro had "ordered all national defense plans to be implemented" and declared "a state of external disturbance."

Shortly after the attack started, CBS White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs cited US officials saying that President Donald Trump had ordered the strikes, while FOX News reported that US officials confirmed the bombings.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the Organization of American States and the UN on the attack in Venezuela.

Over the past months, the United States has maintained a significant military presence in the Caribbean, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, an aircraft carrier, and about 15,000 troops, much of it off Venezuela's coast, purportedly to combat drug trafficking — a claim Venezuela has denounced as a thinly veiled attempt to bring about regime change in Caracas.

Trump ordered strikes on number of targets, including military ones, in Venezuela — media

Trump administration aware of reported explosions in Venezuelan capital — US media

WASHINGTON -- Trump administration officials were aware of reports of explosions and aircraft over Venezuela's capital, Caracas, early Saturday, CBS reporter Jennifer Jacobs posted on X.

US officials have not yet commented on the incident.

US officials confirm strikes against Venezuela — Fox News

Trump says Maduro captured: media

US President Donald Trump said Saturday in a Truth Social post that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela.

Trump confirmed that the United States launched "a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro."

Venezuela's vice-president says government does not know whereabouts of Maduro and his wife — state TV

US senator says Rubio told him 'no further action' now that Maduro is in US custody: media

Venezuelan President Maduro has declared national emergency — media

Venezuela denounces 'military aggression' by the US

Venezuela on Saturday denounced a "military aggression" by the United States, after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over the capital Caracas earlier in the day.

The Venezuelan government said that the military strike targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states of the country, including Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, adding that the US action blatantly violated the UN Charter.

Trump ordered strikes on number of targets, including military ones, in Venezuela -- media

Trump administration aware of reported explosions in Venezuelan capital — US media

Trump administration officials were aware of reports of explosions and aircraft over Venezuela's capital, Caracas, early Saturday, CBS reporter Jennifer Jacobs posted on X.

US officials have not yet commented on the incident.

US officials confirm strikes against Venezuela — Fox News

Large explosions heard in Caracas, capital of Venezuela

Large explosions were heard early Saturday in Caracas, capital of Venezuela.

The cause of the explosions is unclear, while videos circulating on social media show smoke columns.

Partial disruptions to telecommunication services were reported in Venezuela's capital following sounds of explosions.

Low-flying aircraft spotted, plume of smoke seen in Venezuelan capital

Low-flying aircraft were spotted, and clouds of smoke were seen following loud explosion sounds early Saturday in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.

Photos and videos circulating on social media showed smoke rising from multiple locations in the capital, with residents seen fleeing in the streets. The authenticity of this information could not be immediately verified.

Reports said brief power outages occurred in some areas, including a military base in Caracas.

US bans aircraft to Venezuelan airspace amid explosions rocking Caracas

The US Federal Aviation Administration early Saturday banned US aircraft from flying at any altitude within Venezuelan airspace amid reports of explosions in Caracas, citing safety concerns linked to "ongoing military activity."

Shooting reported by eyewitnesses in Caracas, nearby cities of Venezuela: media

US Embassy in Caracas urges Americans not to travel to Venezuela

US President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that the US had struck a port facility in Venezuela several days ago.

"There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs," Trump said.

"Two nights ago, we knocked that out. So we hit them very hard," Trump said.

No details were available regarding damage to the facility, if there were casualties or how it was attacked.

"We hit all the boats and now we hit the area, it's the implementation area. That's where they implement. And that is no longer around," Trump said.

It would be the first known land attack by US forces on Venezuela.

Asked about any CIA involvement, which the president said he had authorized last week, Trump said: "I don't want to say that. I know exactly who it was but I don't want to say who it was. But you know, it was along the shore."

The New York Times alleged the attack was carried out by a CIA drone and didn't cause any casualties. It claimed the attack was on a dock facility run by Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which the Trump administration has designated a foreign terrorist organization.

Venezuela has not commented on the attack, and President Nicolas Maduro has previously denied ties to the drug trade.

"We still have more questions than answers about this operation," Geoff Ramsey, a Venezuela researcher and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.

"Maduro is unlikely to be intimidated by US covert action in Venezuela if it continues to be used to go after relatively low-level drug-trafficking schemes," Ramsey said.

The attack was seen as the latest increase in US pressure on the government of Maduro, which has included the sinking of more than two dozen boats in the Caribbean that it said were carrying drugs — killing over 100 people in the process — and the seizure of two oil tankers in December, which it claimed were transporting sanctioned oil.

"The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco-terrorism in the region," US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted at the time.

Critics say Trump is trying to force a change of government in Venezuela, or use the blockade and seizures as a step toward war with the Latin American country. "I don't rule it out, no," Trump said.

The US military has been building up forces in the Caribbean, including the USS Gerald Ford carrier strike group.

Yvan Gil, Venezuela's foreign minister, claimed earlier that Trump wants the country's energy resources.

Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, and exported an average of more than 770,000 barrels per day last year.

Numerous ships loaded with millions of barrels of oil are now parked off the coast of Venezuela, unsure whether they should set sail and risk being seized.

shiguang@chinadailyusa.com