US Military Conducts Lethal Strike in Pacific, Leading to 4 Deaths
According to a senior military official, the US armed forces executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the eastern Pacific, killing four individuals.
“A US joint task force conducted a deadly attack on a vessel operated by a terrorist group in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was traveling along a established narco-trafficking route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. All four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”
Background and Prior Actions
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 online platforms, the US president alleged Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, vowing to escalate the military buildup.
Only on Tuesday, the Pentagon said it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 military engagements have killed at least 99 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Justifies Tactics Amid Pressure
The administration has faced increasing pressure to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, 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 exceeding the bounds of legal military action.
Although the administration has said the operation is about halting drugs headed to the US, remarks from a senior aide seemed to suggest a broader geopolitical aim. In a recent interview, the senior advisor remarked the president “aims to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”
This suggests the series of strikes may be part of a strategy to remove Venezuela's sitting leadership.
