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According to a senior military official, the American armed forces carried out a fatal strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.

“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Intelligence verified the vessel was transiting along a established narco-trafficking route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. A total of four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no American forces were harmed.”

Background and Prior Actions

This announcement follows a day after a declaration regarding a naval blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, pledging to escalate the military presence.

Just on Tuesday, the Pentagon said it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, killing eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 strikes have killed at least 99 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Justifies Tactics Amidst Pressure

The government has encountered growing demands to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a success, arguing it has prevented drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is exceeding the bounds of legal military action.

Although the administration has stated the operation is about halting drugs destined for the US, remarks from a senior aide seemed to confirm a broader political objective. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor remarked the president “wants to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”

This indicates the series of strikes may be linked to a strategy to oust Venezuela's current government.