Venezuela said it rejected “military aggression” by the United States after multiple explosions rocked the capital, Caracas and other areas early on Saturday.

Attacks also took place in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, a government statement said, prompting President Nicolas Maduro to declare a national emergency and mobilise defence forces.

According to Reuters witnesses and images circulating on social media, blasts, aircraft and black smoke could be seen across the capital, beginning at about 2am.

A power outage affected the southern area of the city, near a major military base, witnesses said.

US broadcaster CBS reported that President Donald Trump had authorised strikes on targets inside Venezuela, including military facilities.

Earlier, the US Federal Aviation Administration banned American commercial flights from Venezuelan airspace, citing “ongoing military activity”, shortly before the explosions were reported.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly promised land operations in Venezuela.

He has not publicly detailed his aims but has privately pressured Maduro to flee the nation, Reuters has reported.

Trump said on Monday it would be “smart” for Maduro to leave power.

The Pentagon referred questions to the White House, which declined to comment.

The Venezuelan government, in its statement, said the goal of the attack is for the United States to take possession of the country’s oil and minerals.

It added that the United States “will not succeed” in taking the resources.

In its statement, the Maduro government condemned what it described as “military aggression” by Washington, saying explosions were heard in the capital Caracas and the coastal and central states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.

Maduro ordered the activation of national defence plans and called on political and social organisations to mobilise, as security forces were deployed across the country.

The presidency said the armed forces and police were acting to “guarantee sovereignty and peace”.