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

“A US joint task force conducted a deadly attack on a craft linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was traveling along a known drug smuggling route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. All four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no US military forces were injured.”

Context and Recent Actions

The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and other crimes, pledging to escalate the military presence.

Only on the previous day, the Pentagon said it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Defends Actions Amidst Scrutiny

The administration has encountered growing pressure to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, officials have declined to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a success, saying it has stopped drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the bounds of lawful warfare.

Although the administration has stated the operation is about stopping drugs destined for the US, remarks from a top official appeared to suggest a broader political objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor said the president “aims to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”

This suggests the military campaign may be linked to a strategy to remove Venezuela's current leadership.