Sabotage damages electrical towers in Anzoategui, Venezuela

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Espanol
Today 10:56

Venezuela's National Electric Company reports that three transmission towers were deliberately sabotaged in Anzoategui, as part of a wider non-conventional war targeting Venezuela.

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The Catia neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, as seen before sunrise, on December 20, 2019. (AP)

Venezuela’s National Electric Corporation (CORPOELEC) reported that the National Electrical System suffered sabotage on Saturday, in the state of Anzoategui, where three transmission towers collapsed in the Juan Antonio Sotillo municipality.

The institution stated that the attack sought to destabilize an essential public service for communities in eastern Venezuela.

CORPOELEC said its workers immediately mobilized to the affected area, in accordance with protocols established by the government led by President Nicolás Maduro.

Technical personnel began repairs on the infrastructure located in Cerro Vidono, with the aim of restoring electrical service progressively and safely.

The statement noted that this act revealed the intensity of a non-conventional war waged against the population’s welfare and affirmed that the Venezuelan people have maintained their commitment to freedom and independence in the face of actions that seek to undermine their stability.

CIA operations in Venezuela authorized under Trump

In mid-October, United States President Donald Trump confirmed that he authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to carry out operations in Venezuela, a move that significantly escalated Washington’s offensive against President Nicolas Maduro.

Speaking at a White House news conference, Trump declined to clarify whether the authorization included plans to overthrow Maduro, but stated, “I think Venezuela’s feeling the heat.” His remarks followed reports that he had signed a highly classified directive, known as a “finding,” granting the CIA broad powers to conduct covert actions in foreign countries. These may range from clandestine information campaigns to supporting opposition forces or even conducting targeted strikes.

In the midst of the 2025 elections, Maduro announced the successful dismantling of a sophisticated terrorist plot orchestrated by extremist factions linked to opposition figures, including Maria Corina Machado and Juan Pablo Guanipa. The planned operation aimed to sabotage Venezuela’s May 25 regional and legislative elections through acts of violence and destabilization.

In April 2024, a 10-hour power outage, the likes of which had not occurred since 2019, occurred due to an attack on the national electricity grid. The blackout affected all 24 states in Venezuela, causing total or partial loss of electricity, according to Freddy Nanez, the Minister of Communication and Information, who spoke on state television early Friday morning.

"We have been victims once again of electrical sabotage," Nanez stated.

In 2022, the US sabotaged state-run Venezuelan oil facilities, according to United Socialist Party of Venezuela leader Diosdado Cabello. At the time, Venezuelan Petroleum Minister Tareck El Aissami said that a gas pipeline for the Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) energy firm in the northern state of Carabobo was subjected to an attack that triggered a fire at one of its sites.

Another attack was attempted at sabotaging the El Palito oil refinery in Carabobo, which could have inflicted "catastrophic damage" on the potentially affected facilities. In that same year, a massive fire broke out at the Cardon refinery in the northern state of Falcon.