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According to a high-ranking military official, the American armed forces executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.

“A US joint task force conducted a deadly attack on a vessel linked to a terrorist group in international waters. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was traveling along a known drug smuggling route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. All four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no US military forces were injured.”

Background and Recent Strikes

This announcement comes a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, pledging to escalate the military buildup.

Just on the previous day, US defense officials stated it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Defends Tactics Amid Pressure

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

While the administration has stated the operation is about stopping drugs destined for the US, remarks from a senior aide appeared to confirm a broader geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor remarked the leader “wants to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”

This indicates the series of strikes may be part of a push to oust Venezuela's current government.