🔗 Share this article

According to a high-ranking defense official, the American military executed a fatal strike on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four people.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a craft linked to a terrorist group in international waters. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was traveling along a known drug smuggling route and was involved in illicit drug transport. A total of four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no US military forces were harmed.”

Context and Prior Actions

This announcement comes a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all targeted oil tankers to and from Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the American leader accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, pledging to escalate the military presence.

Only on Tuesday, US defense officials said it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, killing eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Defends Tactics Amidst Pressure

The administration has encountered growing pressure to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, officials have refused to do so. The administration has supported its efforts as a successful operation, saying it has stopped drugs from entering US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the limits of legal military action.

While the administration has said the campaign is about halting drugs headed to the US, comments from a senior aide seemed to confirm a wider political objective. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor remarked the leader “wants to keep on destroying vessels until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”

This suggests the military campaign may be linked to a strategy to oust Venezuela's current leadership.