Caracas on Edge After Heavy Gunfire and Drone Activity Near Presidential Palace
Caracas, Venezuela — Heavy gunfire and suspected drone activity rattled the area around the Miraflores Presidential Palace late Tuesday, triggering alarm across Venezuela capital amid an already volatile political crisis.
Residents and social media videos captured the sounds of sustained gunfire near the government seat in central Caracas shortly after 8 p.m. local time. Witnesses also reported seeing drones and aircraft-like noises above the palace, heightening fears of unrest as security forces scrambled to respond.
The incident occurred just hours after former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty in a federal court in New York to serious charges including narcoterrorism and drug trafficking. U.S. forces captured the couple earlier this month during a controversial military operation, pushing Venezuela’s political future into uncertainty.
While sporadic gunfire sent residents rushing indoors and sparked global concern, Venezuelan authorities later described the situation as under control. Some reports suggest the firing may have stemmed from heightened vigilance by local security forces responding to unidentified aerial objects — possibly drones — rather than an organized attack.
After Maduro’s removal and extradition, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed office as interim president, while the gunfire highlighted ongoing instability and internal power struggles. Observers warn that Venezuela’s political landscape remains deeply unsettled as international attention focuses on both Caracas and Maduro’s U.S. legal proceedings.
Authorities have not released detailed casualty figures or confirmed whether any armed groups were involved, but embassies and foreign missions have advised residents to stay alert as the situation continues to evolve.
