THE Scottish Greens have branded the air strikes by the US against Venezuela as a “dangerous and cynical act of imperialism and aggression”.
On Saturday, US president Donald Trump said his country’s military had hit Venezuela with a “large-scale strike”, adding that its president, Nicolas Maduro, had also been captured and flown out of the country.
Video shared on social media appeared to show multiple explosions after a low-flying aircraft swept through Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, as Maduro’s government immediately accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations.
The Venezuelan government also called it an “imperialist attack” and urged citizens to take to the streets.
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Trump said Maduro “has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country. This operation was done in conjunction with US law enforcement. Details to follow.” He set a news conference for later Saturday.
Following the news of the US strike, Greens MSP Patrick Harvie said the late-night US military operation was an “unprovoked and deadly invasion” which should “appal all of us”.
“This is a dangerous and cynical act of imperialism and aggression from a Trump administration that has a proven contempt for human rights and international law,” he said.
“Donald Trump promised to end US wars, but since he was elected, he has cosied up to Vladimir Putin, armed Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and bombed Venezuela.
“The unprovoked and deadly invasion of another country while its citizens sleep should appal all of us. The fact that Venezuela has some of the world’s largest oil reserves makes this feel very familiar.”
Harvie added: “If reports that the US has abducted Maduro are true, then it is a coup in all but name.
“We stand in full solidarity with the people of Venezuela. This cannot be allowed to stand.
"The response from other governments will be key. Will they support the sovereignty of Venezuela and condemn these reckless and immoral attacks?”
Following the attack, Venezuela’s vice-president appeared on state TV to say that the government does not know where the president and his wife are after US forces captured them.
The explosions in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, early on the third day of 2026 — at least seven blasts — sent people rushing into the streets, while others took to social media to report hearing and seeing the explosions.
It was not immediately clear if there were casualties. The apparent attack itself lasted less than 30 minutes, but it was unclear if more actions lay ahead, though Trump said in his post that the strikes were carried out “successfully”.
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The strike came as the Trump administration has escalated pressure on Maduro, who has been charged with narco-terrorism in the United States.
The CIA was behind a drone strike last week at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels — the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the US began strikes in September.
Trump for months had threatened that he could soon order strikes on targets on Venezuelan land following months of attacks on boats accused of carrying drugs.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Socialist Party also condemned the attacks, claiming it was an attempt to overthrow the Venezuelan government and replace it with a pro-American regime.
Bill Bonnar, international secretary of the SSP, said: “The Scottish Socialist Party unconditionally condemns the military aggression carried out by the United States against the legitimate and sovereign government of Venezuela.
“It condemns the kidnapping of President Maduro and his wife, the killing of defenceless civilians and widespread destruction. It stands by the Venezuelan Government and the Venezuelan armed forces in the defence of the sovereignty of their country.
“The pretext for the attack is a lie. That this is about stopping the supply of drugs from Venezuela to the United States.
“This claim has no validity or credibility. The real reason is to overthrow the Venezuelan Government, replace it with a dependent pro-American regime and for the United States to gain control of the country’s huge oil reserves.”
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Maduro has also previously decried the US military operations as a thinly veiled effort to oust him from power.
Video obtained from Caracas and an unidentified coastal city showed tracers and smoke clouding the landscape sky as repeated muted explosions illuminated the night sky.
Other footage showed an urban landscape with cars passing on a highway as blasts illuminated the hills behind them. An unintelligible conversation could be heard in the background. The videos were verified by The Associated Press.
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