🔗 Share this article

According to a senior defense official, the American armed forces executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.

“A US joint task force carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a craft linked to a terrorist group in open sea. Intelligence verified the vessel was transiting along a established narco-trafficking route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no US military forces were injured.”

Context and Recent Strikes

This announcement follows a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the American leader accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, pledging to escalate the military presence.

Only on the previous day, the Pentagon said it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 military engagements have killed at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Justifies Tactics Amid Pressure

The government has encountered increasing pressure to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, officials have refused to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a success, arguing it has stopped 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 campaign is about stopping drugs destined for the US, comments from a top official seemed to suggest a broader political objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor said the president “aims to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”

This indicates the military campaign may be part of a push to oust Venezuela's current government.