American Military Conducts Deadly Strike in Eastern Pacific, Leading to Four Fatalities
According to a high-ranking defense official, the American armed forces carried out a fatal strike on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing four individuals.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a craft operated by a terrorist group in international waters. Surveillance verified the vessel was traveling along a established narco-trafficking route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. All four male drug traffickers were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”
Background and Prior Actions
This announcement follows a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and other crimes, pledging to escalate the military buildup.
Just on Tuesday, the Pentagon said it had conducted strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, killing eight people. Beginning on 2 September, over 20 military engagements have killed at least 99 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.
Administration Defends Actions Amid Scrutiny
The administration has faced growing demands to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, officials have declined to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a success, arguing it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the limits of legal military action.
Although the administration has said the campaign is about stopping drugs destined for the US, comments from a top official seemed to suggest a wider geopolitical aim. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff said the leader “aims to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”
This indicates the series of strikes may be part of a push to remove Venezuela's sitting government.
