US Military Executes Lethal Attack in Pacific, Leading to Four Deaths
According to a high-ranking defense spokesperson, the US armed forces executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, killing four individuals.
“A US joint task force conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a craft operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was traveling along a established drug smuggling route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. All four male drug traffickers were killed, and no American forces were injured.”
Context and Prior Actions
This announcement follows a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, vowing to escalate the military presence.
Just on the previous day, the Pentagon stated it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Beginning on 2 September, over 20 military engagements have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Administration Justifies Tactics Amidst Pressure
The government has encountered growing pressure to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has supported its efforts as a successful operation, saying it has prevented drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is exceeding the limits of legal military action.
Although the administration has stated the operation is about stopping drugs headed to the US, comments from a top official seemed to suggest a wider geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor remarked the leader “wants to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”
This indicates the military campaign may be part of a strategy to oust Venezuela's sitting government.
