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According to a senior military spokesperson, the American military executed a fatal strike on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing four people.

“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Intelligence verified the vessel was transiting along a known drug smuggling route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. All four male narco-terrorists were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”

Background and Prior Strikes

The statement comes a day after a declaration regarding a 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 drug trafficking and criminal activities, vowing to increase the military buildup.

Only on Tuesday, US defense officials stated it had conducted strikes on three boats it accused of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, killing eight people. Beginning on 2 September, over 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Justifies Tactics Amidst Scrutiny

The administration has encountered increasing pressure to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a successful operation, arguing it has stopped 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 said the campaign is about stopping drugs headed to the US, remarks from a top official seemed to confirm a broader geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor said the leader “aims to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president surrenders or concedes.”

This suggests the series of strikes may be linked to a push to oust Venezuela's sitting leadership.