🔗 Share this article

According to a high-ranking defense spokesperson, the US military carried out a fatal strike on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, killing four individuals.

“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a vessel linked to a terrorist group in open sea. Intelligence verified the vessel was traveling along a established drug smuggling route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. All four male drug traffickers were killed, and no American forces were harmed.”

Background and Prior Strikes

The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the American leader accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, pledging to increase the military buildup.

Only on the previous day, US defense officials stated it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, killing eight people. Since 2 September, more than 20 strikes have killed at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Justifies Tactics Amid Pressure

The administration has encountered growing pressure to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has defended its efforts as a success, saying it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is exceeding the bounds of legal military action.

Although the administration has stated the operation is about halting drugs headed to the US, comments from a top official seemed to confirm a broader political objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor remarked the leader “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”

This suggests the series of strikes may be linked to a strategy to oust Venezuela's current government.