Gunfire erupts near Venezuela’s Presidential Palace

Just hours after Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim President, heavy gunfire erupted in the area of the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas.

There are unconfirmed reports that the palace has been surrounded as part of a coup attempt. Other sources claimed the incident began after a civilian drone flew in the area, causing nervous military and security forces to believe they were under attack. There are no reports that U.S. troops are involved in the ongoing unrest.

After the Supreme Court swore Rodriguez in, the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces issued a joint statement pledging loyalty to her. Rodriguez then issued a nationwide mobilization of the military and ordered that anyone accused of assisting the U.S. military operation to exfiltrate dictator Nicolas Maduro be arrested.

On Sunday night, the exiled, legitimate President of Venezuela, Edmundo González, called on the military and law enforcement to fulfill their Constitutional duty and declared himself the “Commander-in-Chief.”

“As president of Venezuelans, I make a calm and clear call to the national armed forces and law enforcement agencies: Your duty is to fulfill and enforce the sovereign mandate expressed on July 28, 2024. As commander in chief, I remind you that your loyalty is to the Constitution, to the people, and to the republic.”

Local videos showed convoys of military vehicles moving through the streets of Caracas with the sound of heavy machine gun fire echoing through the city. Residents in the area of Plaza Caracas claimed there was an “aerial attack” on the palace, but did not provide any proof.

Gunmen were also moving through the streets near the Presidential Palace, as civilians fled the area.

Our analysts geolocated a video of Venezuelan police forces on San Martín Avenue at the O’Leary Plaza, 1,500 feet south of the Miraflores Palace, clearing the street. There were no sounds of gunfire in the 8-second clip.

This is a breaking news story.

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