US Armed Forces Executes Deadly Attack in Eastern Pacific, Leading to Four Deaths
As stated by a senior military official, the US armed forces executed a fatal strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific, killing four individuals.
“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a vessel operated by a terrorist group in open sea. Intelligence verified the vessel was traveling along a established drug smuggling route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no American forces were harmed.”
Context and Recent Actions
The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the US president alleged Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and other crimes, vowing to increase the military buildup.
Only on the previous day, the Pentagon said it had conducted strikes on three boats suspected of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, killing eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 strikes have killed at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.
Administration Defends Tactics Amidst Pressure
The government has faced growing pressure to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has defended 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 lawful warfare.
Although the administration has said the campaign is about halting drugs destined for the US, remarks from a senior aide appeared to confirm a wider geopolitical aim. In a recent interview, the chief of staff remarked the leader “aims to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”
This suggests the series of strikes may be linked to a push to oust Venezuela's current leadership.
