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According to a senior military official, the American military carried out a lethal strike on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a deadly attack on a craft operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along a established narco-trafficking route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”

Background and Prior Actions

The statement comes a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, pledging to increase the military buildup.

Only on the previous day, US defense officials stated it had conducted strikes on three boats it accused of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, killing eight people. Since 2 September, more than 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Justifies Tactics Amid Pressure

The administration has faced increasing pressure to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a successful operation, arguing it has prevented drugs from reaching US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the limits of legal military action.

Although the administration has said the campaign is about halting drugs destined for the US, remarks from a senior aide appeared to suggest a broader geopolitical aim. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff remarked the president “wants to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”

This suggests the military campaign may be linked to a push to remove Venezuela's sitting government.