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According to a high-ranking defense official, the US armed forces carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.

“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a craft linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Intelligence verified the vessel was traveling along a established narco-trafficking route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no US military forces were harmed.”

Context and Prior Strikes

This announcement comes a day after an announcement regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from 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.

Just on the previous day, US defense officials 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 strikes have killed at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Defends Actions Amidst Pressure

The government has faced growing pressure to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, officials 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 lawful warfare.

While the administration has stated the campaign is about stopping drugs destined for the US, remarks from a top official appeared to suggest a broader geopolitical aim. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor said the leader “wants to keep on destroying vessels until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”

This suggests the military campaign may be part of a push to oust Venezuela's sitting government.