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According to a senior defense official, the American military executed a fatal kinetic engagement on a boat in the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a craft operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Surveillance verified the vessel was traveling along a known drug smuggling route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no American forces were injured.”

Background and Prior Strikes

The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on social media, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, vowing to increase the military buildup.

Just on the previous day, US defense officials said it had carried out 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, most off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Defends Actions Amidst Pressure

The administration has encountered increasing demands to make public video of a 2 September vessel attack. But, officials have declined to do so. The administration has supported its efforts as a successful operation, saying it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the limits of legal military action.

While the administration has said the campaign is about halting drugs headed to the US, comments from a top official seemed to confirm a wider geopolitical objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor said the president “wants to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”

This suggests the series of strikes may be part of a strategy to oust Venezuela's current government.