🔗 Share this article

As stated by a senior defense spokesperson, the American armed forces executed a fatal kinetic engagement on a boat in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a terrorist group in international waters. Surveillance verified the vessel was traveling along a known drug smuggling route and was involved in illicit drug transport. A total of four male drug traffickers were killed, and no American forces were harmed.”

Context and Prior Strikes

The statement comes a day after an announcement regarding a naval 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 narcotics smuggling and other crimes, vowing to increase the military presence.

Just on the previous day, the Pentagon stated it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Since 2 September, more than 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Justifies Tactics Amid Pressure

The government has encountered increasing demands to make public video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, the defense secretary 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 limits of lawful warfare.

Although the administration has stated the operation is about stopping drugs destined for the US, comments from a top official seemed to confirm a wider geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff said the leader “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”

This indicates the series of strikes may be linked to a strategy to oust Venezuela's sitting leadership.