🔗 Share this article

According to a high-ranking defense official, the US military carried out a fatal kinetic engagement on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.

“A US joint task force conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel linked to a terrorist group in open sea. Intelligence verified the vessel was transiting along a established narco-trafficking route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. All four male drug traffickers were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”

Background and Prior Strikes

This announcement follows a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on social media, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and other crimes, vowing to escalate the military buildup.

Just on Tuesday, the Pentagon stated it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of 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.

Government Defends Actions Amidst Pressure

The government has encountered increasing pressure to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has defended its efforts as a success, saying it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is exceeding the limits of lawful warfare.

Although the administration has stated the operation is about halting drugs headed to the US, comments from a senior aide seemed to confirm a wider geopolitical objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor said the leader “aims to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”

This indicates the military campaign may be part of a strategy to remove Venezuela's current leadership.