American Military Conducts Lethal Attack in Eastern Pacific, Resulting in Four Fatalities
According to a high-ranking defense official, the US armed forces executed a fatal strike on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing four people.
“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a vessel linked to a terrorist group in open sea. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was traveling along a known narco-trafficking route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. All four male drug traffickers were killed, and no US military forces were injured.”
Context and Recent Actions
The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the US president alleged Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and other crimes, pledging to increase the military buildup.
Just 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. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 military engagements have killed at least 99 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Administration Defends Actions Amidst Scrutiny
The administration has faced increasing pressure to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. But, officials have declined to do so. The administration has defended its efforts as a success, arguing it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the bounds of legal military action.
Although the administration has said the campaign is about halting drugs headed to the US, comments from a top official seemed to suggest a wider geopolitical aim. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor remarked the president “aims to keep on blowing boats up until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”
This indicates the military campaign may be linked to a strategy to remove Venezuela's current leadership.
