US Military Executes Lethal Attack in Pacific, Resulting in 4 Fatalities
According to a senior military official, the US armed forces executed a fatal strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.
“A US joint task force carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Intelligence verified the vessel was traveling along a known drug smuggling route and was involved in illicit drug transport. A total of four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no American forces were harmed.”
Background and Recent Actions
The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the US president alleged Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, vowing to increase the military presence.
Only 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. Since 2 September, over 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Justifies Actions Amid Scrutiny
The government has faced increasing demands to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, officials have declined to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a successful operation, saying it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is exceeding the bounds of lawful warfare.
While the administration has stated the operation is about stopping drugs headed to the US, remarks from a senior aide appeared to confirm a broader political objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor remarked the leader “aims to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”
This indicates the military campaign may be part of a push to oust Venezuela's current government.
