US Armed Forces Executes Deadly Strike in Pacific, Resulting in Four Fatalities
According to a high-ranking defense spokesperson, the US armed forces carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of four people.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a terrorist group in open sea. Surveillance verified the vessel was transiting along a known drug smuggling 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
This announcement comes a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the American leader accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and other crimes, pledging to escalate the military presence.
Just on the previous day, the Pentagon stated it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, killing eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 military engagements have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Justifies Actions Amid Pressure
The government has faced growing pressure to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a successful operation, saying it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is exceeding the limits of lawful warfare.
Although the administration has said the operation is about stopping drugs headed to the US, remarks from a top official appeared to suggest a broader geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor said the leader “aims to keep on blowing boats up until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”
This suggests the military campaign may be linked to a strategy to remove Venezuela's current government.
