🔗 Share this article

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

“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a vessel operated by a terrorist group in international waters. Intelligence verified the vessel was transiting along a established drug smuggling route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”

Background and Recent Strikes

This announcement comes a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. In that announcement on online platforms, the American leader accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, vowing to escalate the military buildup.

Only on Tuesday, the Pentagon stated it had conducted strikes on three boats it accused 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 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Justifies Actions Amid Pressure

The government has encountered increasing demands to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. But, officials have declined to do so. The administration has supported its efforts as a successful operation, saying it has stopped drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the limits of legal military action.

Although the administration has stated the operation is about halting drugs headed to the US, remarks from a senior aide appeared to confirm a broader political aim. In a recent interview, the senior advisor said the leader “wants to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”

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