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According to a high-ranking defense official, the American armed forces carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the eastern Pacific, killing four individuals.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike 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. All four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no US military forces were injured.”

Background and Recent Strikes

This announcement follows a day after a declaration regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on social media, the American leader accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and other crimes, vowing to increase the military presence.

Only on the previous day, the Pentagon said it had conducted strikes on three boats suspected 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 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Defends Tactics Amidst Pressure

The government has encountered growing demands to make public video of a 2 September vessel attack. But, officials 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 pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the limits of lawful warfare.

Although the administration has stated the operation is about stopping drugs headed to the US, comments from a senior aide seemed to suggest a wider political aim. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor remarked the president “aims to keep on destroying vessels until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”

This indicates the military campaign may be linked to a strategy to oust Venezuela's current government.