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According to a senior military official, the US military executed a lethal strike on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Surveillance verified the vessel was traveling along a known narco-trafficking route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. All four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no US military forces were harmed.”

Background and Prior Actions

The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on social media, the American leader accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and other crimes, vowing to escalate the military presence.

Only on the previous day, US defense officials stated it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, killing eight people. Since 2 September, more than 20 military engagements have killed at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Defends Actions Amidst Pressure

The administration has encountered increasing pressure to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a successful operation, saying it has prevented drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is exceeding the bounds of legal military action.

While the administration has stated the campaign is about halting drugs destined for the US, remarks from a top official seemed to suggest a wider political aim. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff said the leader “aims to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”

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