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As stated by a high-ranking defense official, the US armed forces executed a lethal strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.

“A US joint task force conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a craft operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along a established narco-trafficking route and was involved in illicit drug transport. A total of four male drug traffickers were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”

Background and Recent Strikes

The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, pledging to escalate the military presence.

Just on the previous day, the Pentagon said it had conducted strikes on three boats it accused of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 strikes have killed at least 99 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Justifies Tactics Amidst Scrutiny

The government has faced increasing demands to make public video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, officials have refused to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a success, arguing it has prevented drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the bounds of lawful warfare.

Although the administration has stated the campaign is about halting drugs headed to the US, comments from a senior aide seemed to suggest a broader geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff said the president “wants to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”

This indicates the military campaign may be part of a push to oust Venezuela's current government.