US Armed Forces Conducts Deadly Attack in Pacific, Leading to 4 Deaths
According to a senior defense official, the American military carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four people.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a deadly attack on a vessel operated by a terrorist group in open sea. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was transiting along a established narco-trafficking route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. A total of four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no American forces were harmed.”
Context and Recent Actions
The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, vowing to increase the military buildup.
Only on Tuesday, the Pentagon stated it had conducted strikes on three boats suspected of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, killing eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 strikes have killed at least 99 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.
Administration Defends Actions Amidst Pressure
The government has faced growing pressure to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused 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 stated the campaign is about halting drugs destined for the US, comments from a top official seemed to confirm a wider political objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor remarked the leader “wants to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”
This suggests the series of strikes may be linked to a strategy to remove Venezuela's sitting government.
