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According to a senior military official, the American armed forces carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.

“A US joint task force carried out a deadly attack on a craft operated by a terrorist group in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was traveling along a established drug smuggling route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. A total of four male drug traffickers were eliminated, and no American forces were harmed.”

Context and Recent Strikes

The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, vowing to increase the military presence.

Only on Tuesday, the Pentagon said it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, killing eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 military engagements have killed at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Defends Actions Amidst Scrutiny

The government has encountered growing demands to make public video of a September 2nd vessel attack. However, officials have refused 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 exceeding the limits of lawful warfare.

While the administration has stated the campaign is about halting drugs destined for the US, remarks from a top official appeared to suggest a wider geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff remarked the leader “wants to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”

This indicates the military campaign may be linked to a strategy to remove Venezuela's sitting leadership.