this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2026

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Explosions heard, low-flying aircraft seen over Venezuela's capital -- US claiming to have captured Venezuelan President (www.abc.net.au)

submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by Tau@aussie.zone to c/worldnews@aussie.zone

30 comments fedilink hide all child comments

At least seven explosions, low-flying aircraft, and one column of smoke have been seen in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, according to eye-witness reports.

The southern area of the capital, near a major military base, was also without electricity.

Venezuela's government did not immediately reply to AP's request for comment.

The cause and and precise locations of the disturbances were not immediately clear.

Update: US President Donald Trump says the US has captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

all 31 comments

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[–] ProfThadBach@lemmy.world 11 points 4 days ago

Fuck me I have only been up for an hour and I am already exhausted.

[–] No1@aussie.zone 5 points 3 days ago

Trump:

Year 1 : Fuck up the USA
Year 2: Fuck up the world

[–] Tau@aussie.zone 11 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Hopefully this ends up just being another relatively minor step in the progression of this conflict, but (probable) air raids on another nations capital does sound like something that could escalate quickly.

[–] MisterFrog@aussie.zone 16 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Let's be real, they're doing a coup to hand over oil rights to US companies.

It's the only reason they're there

[–] mycatsays@aussie.zone 8 points 4 days ago (1 children)

[–] Tau@aussie.zone 8 points 4 days ago (1 children)

And there goes the chances for a minor incident. I guess I'll just hope it stays below the level of us getting dragged into another war that we shouldn't need to be involved in...

[–] MisterFrog@aussie.zone 11 points 4 days ago (2 children)

If you want to make sure that happens, please show up tomorrow:

Let the PM and the cabinet know we won't accept another US imperialist invasion.

(That's who has the power to send troops: https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/memorandum-government-conventions-armed-conflict)

[–] guismo@aussie.zone 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Just ignore the far right but jobs here.

Where did you hear about that? Is there a link? I never see any info on planned protests on Lemmy, which is a shame. Is this usually Facebook?

[–] MisterFrog@aussie.zone 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

The image in question I yoinked from here (not part of this group): https://www.greenleft.org.au/2026-01/event/emergency-actions-hands-venezuela-stop-bombings-melbourne

I just found out about this via word of mouth (well, via chat groups).

This came about very last minute, I don't think any one group in particular organised this.

aussie.zone does not seem to be somewhere for organising (communities need to be approved by the admin). Though haven't actually tried to make a "activism"/"events" community, so it may well be approved.

Else, I've just had a bit of a search on quokk.au:

https://quokk.au/c/events

Perhaps I'll encourage people to post there. (Seems aussie.zone hasn't synced that community yet, probably because no one has searched it until now)

[–] guismo@aussie.zone 1 points 3 days ago

Thanks for the links. There's nothing where I live, but I expected. I'll keep an eye on quokk.au, although I think that's basically just one guy.

[+] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone -11 points 4 days ago (2 children)

standing up for a dictator? what the hell have they put in your drugs

[–] mrcleanup@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

This isn't about standing up for a dictator or not, this is about a few questions. Trump just suggested the following answers.

If a country doesn't like the leader of another country and how they ruin it, can they intervene? YES.

Does a leader need any sort of approval before they intervene? NO.

What sort of intervention can they do? BOMBING AND KIDNAPPING ARE JUST FINE TO FORCE REGIME CHANGE.

This implications of this internally are big enough within the US, but internationally we are setting precedent for these same answers to be used against any country at any time. What would be different about Russia or China doing the same to any country they disprove of? What's to stop them from using it as a flimsy excuse for imperialism?

[–] Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

This is not the way to stand up to authoritarianship. Australia has to keep out of this, even thoough it is damaging to do so, it undoubtedly is. There is no clean slate here for Aus. Unless all of south america stand up against US, there is nothing we can do.

[+] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone -6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

Australia has to keep out of this

I mean it looks like an entirely self contained war between the US and Venezuela that has nothing to do with us but Frog has put:

Let the PM and the cabinet know we won’t accept another US imperialist invasion.

Fuck that, they can invade all the way as far as I'm concerned, you won't find me standing up for

The Board alleged that Maduro administration could be responsible thousands of extra-judicial killings, more than 12,000 cases of arbitrary detentions, more than 290 cases of torture, attacks against the judiciary and a humanitarian crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of people.[264]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicol%C3%A1s_Maduro#Human_rights

He is an absolutely vile evil human being, I'll leave it to you humanitarians to stand up for him

People in Venezuela cheering as a poster of the evil dictator is torn down:

https://files.ikt.id.au/hwdeza.MP4

Left wing progressives in Australia: noooo 😭 lets get out there and protest 🤡

[–] MisterFrog@aussie.zone 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I'm not defending the Venezuelan government.

But this 100% a US imperialist war for natural resources. This is their bread and butter.

If this was actually about intervention into Venezuela in a benevolent way, it would have been brought in front of the UN, or at the very, very least NATO. Or something. Anything.

Make no mistake, this has nothing to do with toppling a dictatorship, and everything to do with oil. Again.

It's an open secret.

We're going to protest to tell our government to stay the fuck out of it and condemn the US's unilateral actions.

There is no "rules based order", only might makes right.

This and the Venezuelan government being a dictatorship are not mutually exclusive.

[+] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone -10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I’m not defending the Venezuelan government.

Yes you are, you just apparently don't seem to realise it

But this 100% a US imperialist war for natural resources. This is their bread and butter

ok straight to conspiracy theories, cool

I've had enough left wing conspiracy theories for one day so I'm out

[–] eureka@aussie.zone 7 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87lnn09yj8o - "Trump says US will keep or sell oil seized from Venezuela"

No-ones theorising about a closed-door conspiracy here. They're seizing oil tankers and making speeches about oil, while attacking the country with the largest proven oil reserves in the world.

Countries waging wars for resources might as well be the default reason for war throughout history. It's pretty funny that you're dismissing it as a "left wing conspiracy theory".

[+] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone -6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

ehhh after reading https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/international/elles-representaient-96-des-revenus-du-pays-avant-l-embargo-americain-les-gigantesques-reserves-de-petrole-du-venezuela-au-coeur-de-la-crise-entre-washington-et-caracas_AD-202601030187.html I think you've got credence but having thought about it I have to admit deep down it doesn't really bother me

maybe it's chopper style morality, the Venezuelan government was evil and awful, if the US takes it out and gets oil for itself so much the better, I hope the Venezuelan people benefit from not being under a dictatorship and it doesn't turn into a Libyan style hellhole, I know María Corina Machado has been someone I have been cheering for so it does look like there is a credible stable government available:

In 2025, Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy".[11]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar%C3%ADa_Corina_Machado

A bit like if the US invaded North Korea for oil, tbh I wouldn't be crying for Kim Jong Un or protesting the US, sometimes it is what it is, a bit like Syria having multiple bad guys fighting each other, sometimes there's no one to cheer for

I want the exact opposite for Ukraine and Greenland and anywhere else that are objectively good guys

hopefully at least by 2027 I can spell Venezuela without needing spell check

[–] MisterFrog@aussie.zone 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I appreciate that you are able to alter your position slightly, to recognise that this is how the US operates. It's not a conspiracy to say that the US has engaged in regime change in dozens and dozens of countries over the last 75 years or so. The former CIA chief openly admits this.

Too many people online can't admit when they're mistaken, so I applaud you for it.

I want the exact opposite for Ukraine and Greenland and anywhere else that are objectively good guys

I don't think there are any objective good guys.

Ukraine's (to my cursory understanding) voting system seems more democratic than what's taken place in Venezuela (which I don't have much understanding of), but from what I've read there were serious problems with corruption in Ukraine, also. (Prior to the war)

Doesn't make it okay that Russia unilaterally decided to invade after a pro-EU party came to power. That's not their prerogative. Ukraine has just as much as right to exist as any other country, flaws and all.

The only way I could accept such an invasion is if aid were requested by grass roots movements that want to install democracy (actual democracy, including proper voting systems like preferential or proportional, and not vulnerable to gerrymandering), and it be done by a coalition of countries, and only if no resource deals are done.

Basically, if an invasion isn't purely for self-defence or philanthropic reasons, it's always unjust.

Can be justified if it's retaliation to neutralise another aggressor (I wouldn't be upset if Moscow were invaded for example. And the invasions of Japan and Germany during WWII were obviously justified).

I also wouldn't be sad if the North Korean government were toppled from power, but again, I would be mad if it were a unilateral resource grab by China, Russia or the US.

In all other cases, invasions without international cooperation are not a great solution for liberating the common people, in my opinion.

And in the case of Venezuela, none of these conditions were met. So I'm against the US showing up and acting like they're allowed to do it without asking. Even if the government there is illegitimate in many people's eyes.

I would be shocked if the US invites international observation of newly run elections, and even if they do, I would be shocked if any government that is elected doesn't bend over and sign resource deals with the US - because they obviously know they'll just be coup'ed if they don't.

[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

we’ll have to agree to disagree

Millions of Venezuelans are happy today and I support them

Hopefully it slowly leads towards them having a country that isn’t broke and corrupt as shit

having watched a few videos on the place in the past it’s probably unlikely though, when you have a shitty culture even if you get invaded it usually returns to the same shitty culture unless you do a full shutdown on it like China in xinjiang on the usual islamic terrorists

I don’t think there are any objective good guys.

Ukraine’s (to my cursory understanding) voting system seems more democratic than what’s taken place in Venezuela (which I don’t have much understanding of), but from what I’ve read there were serious problems with corruption in Ukraine, also. (Prior to the war)

Should watch this:

Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom | Full Feature | Netflix

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yzNxLzFfR5w

The people of Ukraine made it abundantly clear they want less corruption and to move towards EU integration

Same for the Iranians they have made it clear as well that they are not happy

https://aussie.zone/post/28259186

[–] Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

You really need to learn how international norms and laws have helped protect Australia. The problem here isn't getting rid of a dictator, the problem here is the precedent this sets. The US just made every one of their allies much less safe in this world, at a time when they're pulling back from their commitments as allies.

Question you have to ask yourself now,

What stops China from coming and lopping off the Pilbara? The only thing now is raw power, of which, we only have a little. So is the US going to come to support Aus, can we still count on them? If you look at their behaviour around Ukraine, it seems their 'friendship' is pretty bloody fragile these days.

What about Taiwan now? Or some of the Japanese islands? How do you think those putative allies are feeling about this?

You want to set a precedent of our times? This just did.

Look at my comment history from yesterday, i wrote a long comment response that goes into the new geopolitical threat this country and the world now faces.

[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone -1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The US just made every one of their allies much less safe in this world

Venezuela was not a nice place and definitely not one of the good guys

What stops China from coming and lopping off the Pilbara?

Our alliances and defence capabilities, that’s how it is, that’s how it has always been

that’s the primary reason we’re spending billions on AUKUS and coincidentally Japan wants in as well

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/18/japan/japan-role-in-us-uk-australia-defense-pact/

same with Taiwan, they have the:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_shield

Which they’ve been building for decades

It’s why for years we have been the US’s lapdog going into wars we never would have because we rely on them for protection

It’s why we have spent trillions over the previous decades on defence

This is why when I see things like

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m2GH5A1XDCA

i facepalm, you can’t fend off an invasion with twitter posts

it’s why i want a much much stronger alliance with europe, its why i want a far stronger alliance with ukraine, its why i want us to have drone factories making millions of drones and having the spare capacity to send them to ukraine

This idea of rules based order hasn’t been true for a long time, if ever, there was like most of the 20th century a unique set of circumstances as china was in its century of humiliation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_of_humiliation

and the united states is not nearly as bad as any of the nutter states iran/most of africa/most of middle east if they had the same technological capacity and capability and the UN got to pretend it had power

nothing has changed overall from what i can see in terms of might makes right, just who america is targeting and the fact china is returning to its previous former glory as the worlds super power

[–] Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Rules based order allowed you to live a fairly peaceful life up until now. You're going to need to change your opinion on the usefulness of soft power, and diplomacy. It would helpbyou understand the world better knowing what precedence means and its effects in human behavioural terms on the singular level and the macro level.

Most of Africa? Theres that racism on display again. You may as well call them shithole countries. Or shall we call them the bad guys, and then we can call the god guys to sort em out like we're in childs story. Bad guys dobthis, good guys blow em up!

Its a childish view of the world. Two wrongs don't make a right.

[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 0 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Rules based order allowed you to live a fairly peaceful life up until now

Doubt

Most of Africa? Theres that racism on display again

Do you know anything about Africa? Maybe pay attention to it for 5 minutes and then tell me how amazing it is, my focus on the Sahel right now which is currently being attacked by ~~violent islamic jihadists~~ people on the daily

Or shall we call them the bad guys, and then we can call the god guys to sort em out like we’re in childs story. Bad guys dobthis, good guys blow em up!

We have done plenty of work in Africa, for example France supporting Mali's government by killing a group of violent ~~muslims~~ people:

How France Fought a Lightning War in Mali (Op Serval)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT5U-JQ8Puw

But as you'd know:

Despite years of French military operations (like Operation Barkhane), ~~jihadist~~ non-progressive individual violence persisted and even worsened in some areas. The French-led approach was seen as ineffective in bringing lasting security, fueling public discontent and a loss of trust in France’s ability to stabilise the region.

It's almost like countries don't mind when someone comes to help out

[–] Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Yeah, like I don't know about Africa. Welcome to the Sahel, you're about two decades late to the party.

Wait, who're the goodies and baddies! I think we're gonna need to implement some sort of cape system. Black as night, for the goodies, pink with gold sequins for the baddies.

[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

😂

well when the people who were ‘invaded’ are dancing in the streets, maybe lets sit this one out

[–] americanSuxxx@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago

This is how Austrians reacted when Hitler cane to liberate them

[–] YeahToast@aussie.zone 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Hold up, surely america isn't bombing Venezuela now...

[–] Tau@aussie.zone 3 points 4 days ago

It does appear that they have, as of a few minutes ago the article is now saying Venezuela's government has accused the US and that a anonymous US official told Reuters the US was performing strikes in the country.

[–] lurch@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

trump, that backstabbing bastard, has used bombs against another nation, he should have sent to Ukraine. He has proven, just like putin, that any country need nukes now. This is a horrible escalation. We will enter a new multi-front cold war era because of that shithead.