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As stated by a senior military spokesperson, the US armed forces executed a fatal strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of four people.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a deadly attack on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Intelligence verified the vessel was traveling along a known drug smuggling route and was engaged in illicit drug transport. A total of four male drug traffickers were killed, and no US military forces were harmed.”

Context and Prior Strikes

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

Only on Tuesday, US defense officials stated it had conducted strikes on three boats it accused of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, killing eight people. Beginning on 2 September, more than 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Defends Tactics Amid Pressure

The government has faced increasing demands to make public video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, officials have refused to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a success, arguing it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has dismissed 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, remarks from a senior aide seemed to confirm a wider political aim. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor said the leader “wants to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”

This indicates the series of strikes may be linked to a push to remove Venezuela's current government.