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According to a senior defense spokesperson, the US military carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a deadly attack on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Surveillance verified the vessel was transiting along a established narco-trafficking route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. All four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no American forces were injured.”

Context and Prior Actions

This announcement follows a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, pledging to increase the military presence.

Only on Tuesday, the Pentagon stated it had conducted strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Beginning on 2 September, over 20 strikes have killed at least 99 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Justifies Tactics Amidst Scrutiny

The administration has faced growing demands to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has defended its efforts as a successful operation, saying it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the bounds of legal military action.

Although the administration has said the campaign is about stopping drugs headed to the US, comments from a senior aide appeared to suggest a wider geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor said the president “aims to keep on blowing boats up until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”

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