US Military Conducts Deadly Strike in Eastern Pacific, Resulting in Four Fatalities
According to a senior military spokesperson, the US military executed a lethal strike on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four people.
“A US joint task force conducted a deadly attack on a craft linked to a terrorist group in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along a known drug smuggling route and was involved in illicit drug transport. All four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no American forces were harmed.”
Context and Recent Actions
This announcement comes a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and other crimes, vowing to escalate the military presence.
Only on the previous day, the Pentagon said it had conducted strikes on three boats it accused of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, killing eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 strikes have killed at least 99 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Justifies Tactics Amid Scrutiny
The administration has encountered increasing pressure to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a success, arguing it has stopped drugs from entering US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the limits of legal military action.
Although the administration has said the operation is about stopping drugs headed to the US, remarks from a senior aide appeared to confirm a wider geopolitical objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor remarked the president “aims to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president cries uncle.”
This indicates the series of strikes may be part of a push to remove Venezuela's sitting government.
