After the uncertainty generated by bursts of gunfire in the center of Caracas during the night of this Monday, the Government in Charge of Venezuela, led by Delcy Rodríguez, issued an official statement to provide reassurance. According to the report, it was not an armed confrontation or a coup attempt, but rather a deterrent operation against unmanned aircraft.

The 3 minute report

Official sources detailed that the armed response of the Honor Guard and the Police lasted approximately three minutes. The order was to open fire as a deterrent after detecting the presence of unauthorized drones flying over the security perimeter of the Miraflores Palace and other government agencies.

Cause: Drone overflight without official permission in the no-fly zone.

Action: Deterrent shots to force the removal of the devices or their demolition.

Result: No injuries, deaths, or collateral damage are reported.

“Total calm in Caracas”

The statement from the Government in Charge emphasizes that the situation in the capital is “absolutely calm.” It has been reiterated that, after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelan airspace is under strict restrictions and any unidentified object will be immediately neutralized.

“The security of the Government Headquarters is non-negotiable. Unauthorized unmanned objects were detected and proceeded according to defense protocols. The entire country is calm,” reads the official document.

Paranoia after the bombings

Security experts suggest that this incident is a symptom of the nervousness that prevails in Chavismo’s security rings. After the US military incursion on January 3, fear of a new operation with remote technology has led security forces to react with lethal force to any aerial sighting, even if they are their own surveillance drones not communicated internally.

At this time, Urdaneta Avenue and the streets surrounding Miraflores are gradually recovering their usual flow, although a strong presence of the Bolivarian National Guard persists on strategic corners.