US Military Executes Deadly Attack in Pacific, Resulting in Four Deaths
According to a senior military spokesperson, the American armed forces carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.
“Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a deadly attack on a craft operated by a terrorist group in open sea. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was traveling along a known narco-trafficking route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. All four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no US military forces were harmed.”
Background and Recent Strikes
The statement comes a day after a declaration regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on online platforms, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, pledging to increase the military presence.
Only on Tuesday, the Pentagon stated it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 individuals, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.
Government Defends Actions Amidst Scrutiny
The administration has faced increasing demands to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a successful operation, saying it has stopped drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is exceeding the limits of legal military action.
While the administration has stated the campaign is about halting drugs headed to the US, comments from a top official appeared to confirm a wider geopolitical aim. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff remarked the leader “aims to keep on destroying vessels until Venezuela's president cries uncle.”
This suggests the military campaign may be part of a push to oust Venezuela's current leadership.
