The night of Monday, Caracas shook once again. Gunfire was heard in the vicinity of the Miraflores Palace, the seat of the executive power, rekindling fear and uncertainty in a city that is already under maximum tension following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by United States forces.
Residents of Urdaneta Avenue reported hearing gunfire shortly after eight in the evening. Verified videos show anti-aircraft fire over the capital, a scene that sparked rumors and speculation on social media, in a country still shaken by the political and military coup over the weekend, according to CNN en Español.
Venezuelan authorities attempted to calm the alarm just hours later. The Ministry of Communication stated that there were no confrontations and that the police fired upon drones flying over the area without authorization.
“The entire country is completely calm,” they stated, without specifying who was operating the aerial devices. However, the official explanation did not fully dispel the tension that is felt in the capital.
According to CNN, internal discussions among armed groups linked to the regime indicate that the gunfire resulted from a "misunderstanding" and confusion among different security teams deployed near the presidential palace, which were weakened following the recent U.S. military attack, in which dozens of foreign fighters engaged in protective duties were killed.
From Washington, White House officials assured both CNN and NBC News that the United States was not involved in the drone incident. “We are closely monitoring the reports, but we have no involvement,” said official sources quoted by both outlets.
The episode occurred just hours after Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president, amid an extremely fragile political climate.
NBC News highlighted that the sound of gunfire reflected how close Venezuela is to the brink following Maduro's downfall and the uncertainty about the country's immediate future.
The American channel also emphasized that witnesses claimed security forces were shooting at unidentified drones, as questions continue to arise about who sent them and for what purpose.
The tension is not limited to Caracas. There is also an atmosphere of fear and silence at the Colombia-Venezuela border among citizens who cross the border daily. Entire families are leaving the country without knowing when they might return, many reluctant to speak for fear of reprisals against relatives who remain inside Venezuela.
In the capital, the deployment of armed men intensified following the incident. The Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, appeared in videos touring the city alongside security forces, proclaiming "total normalcy in the Caracas night," while chants of loyalty to the regime were heard.
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