US Armed Forces Executes Lethal Strike in Pacific, Leading to Four Deaths
According to a high-ranking military official, the US military executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.
“A US joint task force carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a craft linked to a terrorist group in open sea. Surveillance verified the vessel was transiting along a known narco-trafficking 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 Strikes
The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the American leader accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, vowing to escalate the military presence.
Just on Tuesday, the Pentagon said it had conducted strikes on three boats it accused of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, killing eight people. Since 2 September, more than 20 military engagements have killed at least 99 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Justifies Actions Amid Scrutiny
The government has encountered increasing demands to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a success, saying it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is exceeding the limits of lawful warfare.
While the administration has said the operation is about stopping drugs destined for the US, comments from a top official appeared to confirm a broader political objective. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff remarked the leader “wants to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”
This suggests the series of strikes may be part of a strategy to remove Venezuela's current government.
