US Military Executes Deadly Strike in Eastern Pacific, Leading to Four Deaths
According to a senior defense official, the American armed forces executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.
“A US joint task force conducted a deadly attack on a craft operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Surveillance verified the vessel was transiting along a established narco-trafficking route and was involved in illicit drug transport. A total of four male drug traffickers were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”
Context and Prior Actions
The statement comes a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on social media, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and other crimes, vowing to increase the military buildup.
Only on Tuesday, the Pentagon stated it had conducted strikes on three boats it accused of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, killing eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Justifies Actions Amidst Pressure
The government has encountered increasing pressure to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. But, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has defended its efforts as a successful operation, saying it has prevented drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the limits of legal military action.
Although the administration has stated the campaign is about halting drugs destined for the US, comments from a senior aide seemed to confirm a broader political aim. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor said the leader “aims to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”
This indicates the military campaign may be part of a push to remove Venezuela's current government.