American Military Conducts Lethal Attack in Eastern Pacific, Leading to 4 Deaths
According to a high-ranking military official, the US military carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing four individuals.
“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a vessel linked to a terrorist group in international waters. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was transiting along a established narco-trafficking route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. All four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”
Context and Prior Actions
This announcement comes a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the US president alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and other crimes, vowing to increase the military presence.
Only on the previous day, the Pentagon said it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Since 2 September, more than 20 strikes have killed at least 99 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Administration Justifies Tactics Amid Pressure
The government has encountered increasing demands to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, officials have declined to do so. The administration has supported its efforts as a successful operation, arguing it has prevented drugs from reaching US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the limits of lawful warfare.
Although the administration has stated the campaign is about halting drugs destined for the US, comments from a top official seemed to confirm a wider political aim. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff remarked the leader “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”
This indicates the military campaign may be linked to a push to remove Venezuela's sitting government.
