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According to a senior military official, the American military carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.

“A US joint task force conducted a deadly attack on a vessel linked to a terrorist group in open sea. Intelligence verified the vessel was traveling along a known narco-trafficking route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male drug traffickers were killed, and no American forces were injured.”

Background and Prior Actions

This announcement comes a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on social media, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, vowing to increase the military presence.

Just on Tuesday, US defense officials said it had conducted 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 strikes have killed at least 99 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Justifies Tactics Amidst Scrutiny

The administration has encountered increasing demands to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a successful operation, arguing it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the bounds of legal military action.

While the administration has said the operation is about halting drugs destined for the US, remarks from a top official seemed to suggest a wider geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff said the president “wants to keep on destroying vessels until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”

This indicates the series of strikes may be part of a push to remove Venezuela's sitting leadership.