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US forces have killed four individuals in an operation on a ship in waters close to Venezuela that was purportedly transporting narcotics, according to Defense Secretary announcements.

"The strike was conducted in open seas just adjacent to Venezuela while the boat was transporting large volumes of illegal substances - en route to America to endanger our population," officials stated in a official communication.

This represents the latest in a series of recent deadly strikes that the US has conducted on boats in global maritime zones it claims are engaged in "drug smuggling".

The military actions have received criticism in countries like Venezuela and Colombia, with various legal experts labeling the attacks as a infringement of international law.

Operational Details

Defense authorities confirmed the operation was conducted in the US military command's operational zone, which covers a large portion of South America and the Caribbean.

"Our intelligence, without a doubt, verified that this vessel was transporting drugs, the people onboard were narcotics criminals, and they were using a recognized drug smuggling transportation path," officials announced about Friday's operation.

"Such operations will continue until the threats on the American people are eliminated!!!!"

American leader furthermore confirmed the strike on digital platforms, claiming that the boat was carrying enough illegal substances "to kill 25 to 50 thousand individuals".

Debate and Dispute

Nevertheless, the US has not provided verification for its assertions or any information about the personal details of those aboard the vessel.

There was no quick answer from Venezuela but its head of state has before now condemned the operations and stated his nation will protect itself in response to US "aggression".

Friday's fatal attack is the fourth by the US in a month.

Before this, officials had stated that 11 people had been eliminated in a military action against a illegal substances-bearing boat in the tropical waters at the beginning of September.

Later in the period, two separate attacks within days of each other resulted in the deaths of a combined six persons.

Policy Background

This Thursday, a unauthorized document provided to Congress – covered by journalistic sources – said the US government had now determined it was in a "domestic warfare situation" with drug cartels.

This is significant because the government is obligated by legislation to notify Congress if it will deploy the military, which suggests it intends to use further military action.

The US has presented its strikes on alleged narcotics vessels as self-defence, regardless of many lawyers questioning their lawfulness.

Framing this as an ongoing military confrontation is probably a approach to rationalize using heightened wartime powers – for example eliminating "adversaries" even if they have not demonstrated a physical risk, or detaining people without limit.

These are analogous powers to those implemented regarding different entities in previous confrontations.

Government officials have failed to supply the reasoning for why they appear to be categorizing drug trafficking and associated crimes as an "military assault", or specified which organizations they believe are threatening the US.

Officials have earlier categorized many groups, like those in Mexico, Ecuador and Venezuela, as threat entities – giving US authorities more powers in their handling of them.