Caracas, January 3 (NationPress) - Early Saturday morning, several significant explosions echoed through Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela.

The origins of these explosions remain uncertain, with social media videos capturing impressive smoke plumes.

After the explosion sounds, reports from Xinhua news agency indicated that there were partial interruptions to telecommunication services in the city.

This alarming event coincides with repeated warnings from US President Donald Trump regarding the potential for ground operations in Venezuela. His strategy aims to remove President Nicolas Maduro by increasing sanctions, enhancing military presence, and accusing vessels of drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Recently, the US government imposed sanctions on 10 entities and individuals associated with Iran and Venezuela, claiming that Tehran has been supplying conventional arms to Caracas and posing threats to US interests throughout the Western Hemisphere, including the US itself.

Statements from both the US Department of State and Treasury revealed that a Venezuelan company implicated in the sanctions had participated in selling millions of dollars worth of Iranian-designed combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Accusations were also leveled against other sanctioned individuals and entities for supporting procurement networks tied to Iran’s drone and ballistic missile initiatives.

According to Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the State Department, the designated entities underscore Iran's active proliferation of combat UAVs and its ongoing procurement of missile-related materials against UN regulations.

He emphasized that the Trump administration intends to take steps against Iran's ballistic missile activities, hinder the development of its conventional and asymmetric weaponry, and prevent Iran from achieving nuclear capabilities.

John K. Hurley, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated, "We will persist in taking rapid measures to deny those who facilitate Iran's military-industrial complex access to the US financial framework."

The US Treasury Department also pointed out that Iran's UAV and missile programs pose a risk to US and allied personnel in the Middle East and disrupt commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Relations between the US and Venezuela have sharply deteriorated, with Caracas repeatedly accusing Washington of seeking regime change and escalating its military footprint in the region under the guise of an anti-narcotics campaign.

Furthermore, the CIA conducted a drone strike last December on a dock facility along the Venezuelan coast, marking the first known land attack by the Trump administration within the resource-rich South American nation.

This operation targeted a secluded dock believed by US officials to be utilized by a Venezuelan gang for drug storage and subsequent transfer onto vessels for distribution, as reported by sources.