US Military Executes Deadly Strike in Pacific, Leading to Four Fatalities
As stated by a high-ranking defense official, the US military executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of four people.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a deadly attack on a craft linked to a terrorist group in international waters. Intelligence verified the vessel was traveling along a known drug smuggling route and was involved in illicit drug transport. All four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no US military forces were injured.”
Background and Recent Actions
This announcement comes a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers to and from Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, vowing to increase the military presence.
Just on the previous day, the Pentagon stated it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, killing eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 military engagements have killed at least 99 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Justifies Tactics Amid Scrutiny
The government has encountered increasing pressure to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, officials have refused to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a successful operation, saying it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the bounds of lawful warfare.
Although the administration has said the operation is about stopping drugs headed to the US, remarks from a top official seemed to confirm a broader geopolitical aim. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff said the president “wants to keep on destroying vessels until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”
This indicates the military campaign may be linked to a push to remove Venezuela's current government.
