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As stated by a senior military official, the US military carried out a fatal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.

“A US joint task force conducted a deadly attack on a vessel linked to a terrorist group in open sea. Intelligence verified the vessel was transiting along a established drug smuggling route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male drug traffickers were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”

Background and Prior Strikes

The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the US president alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, pledging to escalate the military buildup.

Just on Tuesday, US defense officials stated it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, killing eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 military engagements have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Justifies Actions Amid Pressure

The government has faced growing demands to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, officials have refused to do so. The administration has defended its efforts as a successful operation, arguing it has stopped drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is exceeding the limits of lawful warfare.

Although the administration has said the campaign is about stopping drugs headed to the US, comments from a senior aide seemed to suggest a broader political objective. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff said the leader “aims to keep on blowing boats up until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”

This suggests the military campaign may be part of a push to remove Venezuela's current leadership.