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According to a high-ranking military spokesperson, the American military executed a fatal strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a craft linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was transiting along a established drug smuggling route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. All four male drug traffickers were killed, and no US military forces were injured.”

Context and Prior Actions

The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on social media, the American leader accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and other crimes, pledging to escalate the military presence.

Just on Tuesday, US defense officials stated 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 resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Defends Tactics Amidst Pressure

The government has faced growing demands to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, officials have refused to do so. The administration has supported its efforts as a success, saying it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the bounds of legal military action.

While the administration has stated the campaign is about stopping drugs headed to the US, remarks from a senior aide seemed to confirm a broader geopolitical objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor remarked the leader “aims to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”

This suggests the military campaign may be linked to a strategy to remove Venezuela's current government.