American Armed Forces Executes Lethal Attack in Eastern Pacific, Leading to 4 Deaths
According to a senior defense official, the American military carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing four people.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a craft linked to a terrorist group in open sea. Surveillance verified the vessel was transiting along a known drug smuggling route and was involved in illicit drug transport. A total of four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no American forces were injured.”
Background and Recent Actions
The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers to and from Venezuela. In that announcement on online platforms, the US president alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, pledging to increase the military presence.
Only on Tuesday, US defense officials said it had conducted strikes on three boats suspected of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, killing eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 military engagements have killed at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.
Administration Defends Tactics Amid Pressure
The administration has faced growing demands to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a successful operation, arguing it has stopped drugs from entering US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the bounds of lawful warfare.
Although the administration has stated the operation is about halting 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 said the leader “wants to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”
This suggests the military campaign may be part of a push to remove Venezuela's current leadership.
