American Armed Forces Conducts Deadly Attack in Eastern Pacific, Resulting in Four Deaths
According to a high-ranking military spokesperson, the US armed forces carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing four people.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a craft operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along a established drug smuggling route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. All four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no American forces were harmed.”
Context and Prior Strikes
This announcement follows a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on online platforms, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, vowing to increase the military presence.
Just on Tuesday, 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 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Justifies Tactics Amid Pressure
The administration has encountered increasing demands to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. But, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a success, saying it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the limits of lawful warfare.
While the administration has said the campaign is about halting drugs destined for the US, comments from a senior aide seemed to confirm a wider geopolitical objective. In a recent interview, the chief of staff said the leader “aims to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”
This indicates the series of strikes may be linked to a strategy to remove Venezuela's sitting government.
