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According to a high-ranking defense official, the US armed forces executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing four people.

“A US joint task force conducted a deadly attack on a vessel linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization in international waters. Surveillance confirmed the vessel was transiting along a established drug smuggling route and was involved in narco-trafficking operations. All four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no American forces were harmed.”

Context and Recent Strikes

This announcement comes a day after a declaration regarding a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela. That statement on social media, the American leader alleged Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and criminal activities, vowing to increase the military presence.

Only on Tuesday, US defense officials said it had carried out strikes on three boats it accused of trafficking drugs in the Pacific, killing eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, the majority off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Defends Tactics Amid Scrutiny

The administration has encountered increasing pressure to make public video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have refused to do so. The administration has defended its campaign as a successful operation, saying it has stopped drugs from entering US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the limits of lawful warfare.

While the administration has said the operation is about halting drugs headed to the US, remarks from a senior aide seemed to confirm a wider geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the chief of staff remarked the president “aims to keep on destroying vessels until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”

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