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As stated by a senior military spokesperson, the American armed forces carried out a fatal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing four people.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a deadly attack on a vessel linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization in open sea. Surveillance verified the vessel was traveling along a known drug smuggling route and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of four male drug traffickers were killed, and no American forces were injured.”

Context and Prior Strikes

This announcement comes a day after a declaration regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. That statement on online platforms, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil profits to fund narcotics smuggling and other crimes, vowing to increase the military buildup.

Only on Tuesday, US defense officials said 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 military engagements have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 individuals, most off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Justifies Tactics Amid Scrutiny

The government has encountered growing demands to release video of a September 2nd vessel attack. But, officials have refused to do so. The administration has defended its efforts as a success, saying it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the bounds of legal military action.

Although the administration has stated the operation is about halting drugs headed to the US, remarks from a top official seemed to confirm a wider political objective. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff said the leader “wants to keep on destroying vessels until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”

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