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According to a senior defense spokesperson, the US military executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.

“A US joint task force carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a craft linked to a terrorist group in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was traveling along a established narco-trafficking route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no American forces were injured.”

Background and Prior Actions

The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, pledging to increase the military buildup.

Only on Tuesday, the Pentagon stated it had conducted strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Beginning on 2 September, over 20 strikes have killed at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Justifies Tactics Amid Pressure

The government has faced growing pressure to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a successful operation, saying it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the limits of legal military action.

While the administration has stated the operation is about stopping drugs destined for the US, remarks from a top official seemed to suggest a wider geopolitical aim. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff remarked the leader “aims to keep on destroying vessels until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”

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