American Military Conducts Lethal Strike in Pacific, Resulting in Four Fatalities
According to a senior defense official, the US armed forces executed a fatal strike on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, killing four individuals.
“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a craft operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Surveillance verified the vessel was traveling along a established drug smuggling route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. All four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no US military forces were injured.”
Background and Prior Actions
The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on social media, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and other crimes, pledging to increase the military buildup.
Just on Tuesday, the Pentagon stated it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 strikes have killed at least 99 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Justifies Actions Amid Scrutiny
The administration has faced increasing pressure to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has defended its efforts as a successful operation, saying it has prevented drugs from reaching US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the bounds of legal military action.
While the administration has said the operation is about halting drugs destined for the US, comments from a top official seemed to confirm a wider geopolitical aim. In a recent interview, the chief of staff remarked the leader “aims to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”
This suggests the military campaign may be linked to a push to remove Venezuela's current government.
