Hegseth declares continued assaults on 'narco-boats'

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Tuesday that the United States will continue operations against drug-smuggling boats. Speaking at a White House cabinet meeting, Hegseth declared, "We've only begun targeting narco-boats and putting narco-terrorists at the bottom of the ocean."

The remarks come after scrutiny over reports that on September 2, US forces targeted a vessel in the Caribbean believed to be transporting drug traffickers and subsequently killed two survivors in a follow-up strike. When asked about the operation, Hegseth said he had "watched the first strike live" but left afterward. He added that Admiral Frank Bradley, who led the mission, "sank the boat and eliminated the threat" with full authority, making "the correct decision."

"I did not personally see survivors," Hegseth said, noting the chaotic nature of combat, calling it "the fog of war." He criticized media outlets for alleged misreporting and denied claims that he ordered the killing of all individuals on board. The White House clarified that Hegseth authorized Bradley to act, with spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt emphasizing that the admiral operated within legal bounds.

At the meeting, Hegseth stated, "We always support our commanders who make decisions in difficult situations ... and this case is no exception." He claimed that maritime drug traffic into the US has fallen by 91%, noting that operations are temporarily paused due to difficulty locating targets.

President Donald Trump commented on the strike, saying he had limited information and was not involved in the decision-making. "I knew they took out a boat," Trump said.

The September 2 incident was the start of ongoing operations against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean, with US forces reportedly responsible for more than 80 deaths. The strikes have faced criticism for lacking initial legal justification. The Trump administration classifies drug cartels as terrorist organizations, while Venezuela has accused the US of pursuing regime change.

US lawmakers have expressed concern over the follow-up strike. Republican Senator Roger Wicker and Democratic Senator Jack Reed stated that the Senate Armed Services Committee is reviewing reports of additional attacks on suspected narcotics vessels and will conduct oversight to determine the facts.

Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen and Tim Kaine warned that killing survivors could constitute a war crime. Kaine told CBS News, "If that reporting is true, it's a clear violation of the Department of Defense's own laws of war, as well as international laws," while Van Hollen noted to ABC News that such actions "could very well be a war crime," depending on the administration's classification of drug gangs as combatants.

Author: Sophia Brooks