🔗 Share this article

As stated by a high-ranking military official, the American military executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four people.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a craft linked to a terrorist group in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along a established narco-trafficking route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. All four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no US military forces were injured.”

Context and Recent Actions

The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the US president alleged Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, pledging to increase the military presence.

Just on the previous day, the Pentagon stated it had conducted 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 killed at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Defends Tactics Amid Scrutiny

The government has faced increasing pressure to make public video of a 2 September vessel attack. But, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has supported its efforts as a successful operation, arguing it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is exceeding the bounds of legal military action.

While the administration has said the operation is about stopping drugs headed to the US, comments from a top official appeared to suggest a wider geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff said the president “aims to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president cries uncle.”

This suggests the series of strikes may be linked to a strategy to remove Venezuela's current government.