US Military Conducts Deadly Strike in Pacific, Leading to 4 Deaths
As stated by a senior defense official, the US military executed a fatal strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.
“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Intelligence verified the vessel was transiting along a established drug smuggling route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no US military forces were harmed.”
Context and Recent Actions
The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on social media, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, vowing to increase the military buildup.
Only 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. Since 2 September, more than 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Justifies Tactics Amidst Pressure
The government has faced growing 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 success, saying it has stopped drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the bounds of lawful warfare.
While the administration has stated the operation is about stopping drugs destined for the US, comments from a top official seemed to confirm a wider geopolitical aim. In a recent interview, the chief of staff said the president “wants to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”
This suggests the military campaign may be part of a push to oust Venezuela's sitting leadership.
