CARACAS, VENEZUELA – Heightened tensions gripped Venezuela’s capital following a significant security incident near the Presidential Palace of Miraflores on January 5th, which authorities have attributed to communication failures between security units. The episode occurred mere hours after ousted leader Nicolás Maduro made his initial appearance in a United States federal court.
Multiple international media outlets documented anti-aircraft gunfire and unusual military movements throughout Caracas after dark. Security personnel stationed at the presidential compound reportedly engaged unidentified drones, though no casualties or material damages were officially reported. CNN subsequently circulated verified footage showing anti-aircraft tracer rounds illuminating the night sky above the city.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello Rondon conducted an emergency inspection tour throughout the capital, visiting key locations including Plaza O Leary to assess security deployments. Government sources described the overall situation as calm despite the alarming incident. Official communications from Rondon’s media program, Con El Mazo Dando, emphasized that security forces reported tranquility throughout their monitored zones.
The palace incident follows the dramatic capture of Maduro and his wife by U.S. forces on January 3rd from a Caracas compound, resulting in 32 Cuban casualties during the extraction operation. The transfer sparked international controversy and divided reactions across political spectrums.
Maduro entered a plea of not guilty to federal narcotics and weapons charges during his January 5th arraignment in New York, asserting status as a prisoner of war. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s National Assembly convened to inaugurate its 2026-2031 session, swearing in Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader.
In a late-night Telegram address, Rodríguez vehemently condemned what she termed the ‘kidnapping’ of Maduro, vowing to pursue national sovereignty through unity and peace. ‘I swear I will not rest until Venezuela achieves its rightful destiny as a free, sovereign nation,’ she declared, calling for collective action toward economic stability and social welfare.