US Armed Forces Executes Lethal Strike in Eastern Pacific, Leading to 4 Fatalities
According to a senior defense official, the American armed forces executed a fatal kinetic engagement on a boat in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel linked to a terrorist group in international waters. Surveillance verified the vessel was transiting along a established narco-trafficking route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. All four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no US military forces were injured.”
Context and Recent Actions
The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on social media, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, vowing to escalate the military presence.
Just on the previous day, US defense officials stated it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Beginning on 2 September, over 20 strikes have killed at least 99 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Administration Justifies Tactics Amid Scrutiny
The administration has encountered growing pressure to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, officials have declined to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a success, saying it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the bounds of lawful warfare.
Although the administration has said the campaign is about halting drugs headed to the US, comments from a senior aide appeared to suggest a wider geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor remarked the leader “aims to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president cries uncle.”
This indicates the military campaign may be linked to a push to oust Venezuela's current leadership.
