According to a high-ranking military official, the American military executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the eastern Pacific, killing four individuals.
“A US joint task force conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel linked to a terrorist group in open sea. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was traveling along a known drug smuggling route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male drug traffickers were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”
Background and Recent Strikes
This announcement comes a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on social media, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and other crimes, vowing to escalate the military buildup.
Only on the previous day, the Pentagon said 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 killed at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.
Administration Justifies Actions Amidst Scrutiny
The administration has faced growing demands to make public video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has supported its efforts as a success, saying it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is exceeding the limits of lawful warfare.
While the administration has said the campaign is about halting drugs destined for the US, remarks from a top official appeared to suggest a broader geopolitical objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor remarked the president “aims to keep on blowing boats up 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.
