🔗 Share this article

According to a high-ranking defense spokesperson, the US military executed a lethal strike on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four people.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a deadly attack on a craft linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Surveillance verified the vessel was transiting along a established drug smuggling route and was involved in illicit drug transport. A total of four male drug traffickers were killed, and no American forces were harmed.”

Context and Recent Strikes

This announcement comes a day after a declaration regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the American leader accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, pledging to increase the military presence.

Just on the previous day, 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. Since 2 September, over 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Defends Tactics Amid Scrutiny

The government has faced growing demands to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a success, saying it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the limits of lawful warfare.

Although the administration has said the operation is about stopping drugs destined for the US, comments from a senior aide appeared to suggest a broader geopolitical objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor remarked the president “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”

This suggests the military campaign may be part of a push to remove Venezuela's sitting leadership.