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As stated by a senior defense spokesperson, the American military executed a lethal kinetic engagement on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a terrorist group in open sea. Surveillance verified the vessel was traveling along a known narco-trafficking route and was involved in illicit drug transport. All four male drug traffickers were killed, and no American forces were harmed.”

Context and Recent Strikes

The statement follows a day after an announcement regarding a naval blockade of all targeted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and other crimes, vowing to escalate the military presence.

Just on the previous day, the Pentagon 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 killed at least 99 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.

Government Justifies Tactics Amidst Scrutiny

The government has encountered growing demands to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. However, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has supported its campaign as a successful operation, arguing it has prevented drugs from reaching US shores and has dismissed concerns that it is stretching the limits 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 suggest a wider political objective. In a recent interview, the senior advisor said the leader “wants to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president surrenders or concedes.”

This suggests the military campaign may be part of a push to oust Venezuela's current leadership.