As stated by a senior defense official, the American armed forces executed a lethal strike on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a craft linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was traveling along a known narco-trafficking route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. A total of four male drug traffickers were killed, and no American forces were injured.”
Context and Recent Actions
The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, vowing 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. Since 2 September, more than 20 strikes have killed at least 99 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Administration Defends Tactics Amidst Pressure
The government has encountered increasing demands to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a success, arguing it has prevented drugs from reaching 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 stopping drugs headed to the US, comments from a senior aide seemed to confirm a wider political aim. In a recent interview, the senior advisor remarked the leader “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Venezuela's president cries uncle.”
This suggests the military campaign may be part of a push to oust Venezuela's current government.
