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As stated by a senior defense official, the American military carried out a lethal strike on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, killing four people.

“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a craft linked to a terrorist group in international waters. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was traveling along a established narco-trafficking route and was involved in illicit drug transport. All four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no US military forces were injured.”

Background and Prior Actions

The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on online platforms, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, vowing to increase the military buildup.

Only on the previous day, the Pentagon stated it had conducted strikes on three boats it accused of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 military engagements have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Defends Actions Amidst Scrutiny

The government has encountered increasing pressure to make public video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has supported its efforts as a successful operation, arguing it has prevented drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is exceeding the limits of legal military action.

While the administration has stated the campaign is about halting drugs destined for the US, comments from a senior aide seemed to confirm a broader geopolitical aim. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff said the leader “wants to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president cries uncle.”

This suggests the military campaign may be linked to a push to remove Venezuela's sitting government.