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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, killing four people.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was transiting 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.”

Context and Prior Actions

This announcement comes a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on online platforms, the US president alleged Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and other crimes, pledging to escalate the military presence.

Only on Tuesday, the Pentagon said it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 military engagements have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Justifies Tactics Amid Scrutiny

The government has faced growing 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 prevented drugs from reaching US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is exceeding the bounds of legal military action.

While the administration has stated the campaign is about stopping drugs headed to the US, remarks from a senior aide seemed to confirm a wider political aim. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff remarked the president “aims to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”

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