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According to a senior military official, the US military carried out a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing four individuals.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a craft operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was traveling along a known narco-trafficking route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. All four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no US military forces were injured.”

Context and Prior Actions

The statement comes a day after an announcement 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 profits to fund narcotics smuggling and criminal activities, vowing to escalate the military buildup.

Only on Tuesday, US defense officials stated it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Since 2 September, more than 20 strikes have killed at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Justifies Tactics Amid Pressure

The administration has faced increasing demands to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has supported its efforts as a success, arguing it has prevented drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is exceeding the bounds of legal military action.

While the administration has said the campaign is about halting drugs headed to the US, comments from a top official appeared to confirm a wider geopolitical objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor remarked the leader “aims to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”

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