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As stated by a high-ranking military official, the American military executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four people.

“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a vessel operated by a terrorist group in open sea. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along a established drug smuggling route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. All four male drug traffickers were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”

Background and Recent Strikes

The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the American leader accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and other crimes, pledging to increase the military buildup.

Only on Tuesday, the Pentagon said it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Beginning on 2 September, over 20 military engagements have killed at least 99 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Defends Actions Amid Scrutiny

The administration has encountered increasing demands to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a successful operation, arguing it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the limits of legal military action.

While the administration has stated the campaign is about halting drugs headed to the US, remarks from a top official seemed to suggest a wider political objective. In a recent interview, the chief of staff said the president “aims to keep on destroying vessels until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”

This suggests the military campaign may be part of a strategy to remove Venezuela's current government.