American Armed Forces Conducts Lethal Attack in Pacific, Resulting in Four Fatalities
According to a high-ranking military official, the American military carried out a lethal strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route and was involved in illicit drug transport. All four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no US military forces were injured.”
Background and Prior Strikes
This announcement follows a day after a declaration regarding a 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 increase the military buildup.
Only on Tuesday, US defense officials stated it had conducted strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Since 2 September, more than 20 military engagements have killed at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.
Administration Justifies Tactics Amid Scrutiny
The administration has faced increasing pressure to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a successful operation, saying it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the bounds of legal military action.
Although the administration has said the operation is about stopping drugs destined for the US, comments from a senior aide seemed to confirm a wider geopolitical aim. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff remarked the leader “wants to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”
This suggests the series of strikes may be part of a push to remove Venezuela's sitting leadership.
