American Armed Forces Executes Lethal Strike in Pacific, Leading to Four Deaths
According to a high-ranking military spokesperson, the US armed forces carried out a fatal strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific, killing four individuals.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Intelligence verified the vessel was traveling along a established narco-trafficking route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male drug traffickers were killed, and no US military forces were injured.”
Background and Prior Strikes
The statement comes a day after a declaration regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, vowing to increase the military buildup.
Just on the previous day, the Pentagon said it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Beginning on 2 September, over 20 military engagements have killed at least 99 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Administration Justifies Actions Amid Scrutiny
The government has faced increasing demands to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a successful operation, arguing it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the limits of legal military action.
While the administration has stated the operation is about stopping drugs headed to the US, remarks from a top official seemed to confirm a wider political objective. In a recent interview, the chief of staff remarked the president “aims to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”
This indicates the military campaign may be part of a push to remove Venezuela's current government.
