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According to a senior defense official, the American military carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four people.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Surveillance verified the vessel was traveling along a established narco-trafficking route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. All four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no American forces were injured.”

Context and Prior Actions

The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, pledging to escalate the military presence.

Only on the previous day, US defense officials said 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, more than 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Defends Tactics Amidst Pressure

The administration has faced increasing demands to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, officials have declined to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a successful operation, saying it has prevented drugs from reaching US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the bounds of lawful warfare.

Although the administration has stated the operation is about halting drugs destined for the US, comments from a top official appeared to confirm a wider political aim. In a recent interview, the senior advisor said the president “wants to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president cries uncle.”

This indicates the series of strikes may be part of a strategy to remove Venezuela's sitting leadership.