American Armed Forces Executes Lethal Strike in Pacific, Resulting in 4 Fatalities
As stated by a senior defense official, the US military executed a lethal strike on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, killing four people.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a craft operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Intelligence verified the vessel was transiting along a known drug smuggling route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. A total of four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no US military forces were injured.”
Background and Prior Strikes
The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the American leader accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, vowing to escalate the military presence.
Only on the previous day, the Pentagon said it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 military engagements have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Defends Tactics Amidst Pressure
The administration has faced growing pressure to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. But, officials have declined to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a success, saying it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is exceeding the bounds of legal military action.
While the administration has said the operation is about halting drugs headed to the US, comments from a senior aide seemed to confirm a broader political aim. In a recent interview, the senior advisor remarked the president “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”
This indicates the series of strikes may be part of a strategy to remove Venezuela's sitting leadership.