Sat Jan 03 09:45:01 UTC 2026: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

Explosions were reported in Caracas, Venezuela, early Saturday morning, accompanied by sounds of aircraft. This follows recent heightened tensions between the US and Venezuela, including veiled threats of ground strikes by President Trump against alleged drug cartels. Trump recently claimed the US destroyed a Venezuelan docking area, but details remain unclear. This action, along with ongoing US maritime strikes against alleged drug boats, is escalating tensions, with Venezuela’s President Maduro open to talks despite the pressure. The US accuses Maduro of drug trafficking, which he denies, attributing US actions to Venezuela’s oil reserves.

News Article:

Explosions Rock Caracas Amid Rising US-Venezuela Tensions

CARACAS, VENEZUELA – Loud explosions and the sound of aircraft overhead were reported in Caracas around 2:00 am local time (0600 GMT) on Saturday, according to an AFP journalist on the ground. The source of the explosions remains undetermined, but they come amidst sharply rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela.

The incident follows recent statements by US President Donald Trump raising the possibility of ground strikes against Venezuela, specifically targeting alleged drug cartels. Trump claimed earlier this week that the United States had “hit and destroyed” a docking area used by Venezuelan drug boats, but he offered no specific details on the operation, including whether it was a military or CIA operation or the exact location, only indicating it was along the shore. (See Tweets below)

[Tweets Embedded Here – Copied from original text]

The Trump administration has accused President Nicolas Maduro of heading a drug cartel, a claim Maduro vehemently denies. Maduro contends that the US is seeking his ouster due to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

The U.S. has significantly increased pressure on Venezuela, informally closing its airspace, imposing further sanctions, and seizing tankers carrying Venezuelan oil. President Maduro stated this week that he is open to cooperation with the United States following weeks of military pressure.

In recent months, the U.S. military has conducted numerous strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean, claiming they were targeting drug smugglers. These strikes have resulted in at least 107 deaths in 30 separate incidents, according to figures released by the U.S. military. The US administration has not provided evidence that the targeted boats were involved in drug trafficking, however.

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