🔗 Share this article

As stated by a high-ranking defense official, the American armed forces carried out a fatal strike on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four people.

“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Surveillance verified the vessel was traveling along a established narco-trafficking route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. All four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”

Context and Prior Strikes

This announcement follows a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on online platforms, the US president alleged Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, pledging to increase the military buildup.

Only on the previous day, the Pentagon said it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 strikes have killed at least 99 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Justifies Actions Amid Scrutiny

The administration has encountered increasing pressure to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has defended its efforts as a successful operation, saying 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 campaign is about halting drugs destined for the US, remarks from a top official appeared to confirm a wider political aim. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor remarked the president “wants to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president cries uncle.”

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