American Armed Forces Conducts Deadly Strike in Pacific, Leading to Four Deaths
According to a high-ranking military official, the American armed forces executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing four people.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a craft operated by a terrorist group in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was traveling along a known narco-trafficking route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no American forces were injured.”
Context and Prior Strikes
The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and other crimes, pledging to increase the military buildup.
Only on the previous day, the Pentagon stated it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, killing eight people. Beginning on 2 September, over 20 strikes have killed at least 99 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Defends Actions Amid Scrutiny
The administration has faced increasing demands to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a success, arguing it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the bounds of lawful warfare.
Although the administration has stated the campaign is about stopping drugs headed to the US, comments from a top official appeared to suggest a broader geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor said the president “wants to keep on destroying vessels until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”
This indicates the series of strikes may be linked to a strategy to remove Venezuela's sitting government.
