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According to a high-ranking defense spokesperson, the American military executed a fatal strike on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing four people.

“A US joint task force carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was transiting along a established narco-trafficking route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. All four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no US military forces were injured.”

Background and Recent Strikes

This announcement comes a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the American leader alleged 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 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, more than 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Defends Actions Amidst Scrutiny

The administration has encountered growing demands to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, officials have refused to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a successful operation, arguing it has stopped drugs from entering US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the bounds of lawful warfare.

Although the administration has said the campaign is about stopping drugs headed to the US, remarks from a top official appeared to confirm a wider political objective. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor remarked the leader “wants to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president cries uncle.”

This indicates the series of strikes may be part of a strategy to oust Venezuela's sitting government.