Pete Hegseth denies issuing orders to 'kill everybody' on suspected 'narco-boat'

The US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, dismissed reports suggesting he had unlawfully ordered the killing of all individuals in a military operation in the Caribbean, calling such claims false news on Friday evening. He emphasized that the series of strikes targeting vessels was fully compliant with both US and international law.

Hegseth criticized the reports about his involvement as fabricated, inflammatory, and damaging to the reputation of our exceptional service members protecting the homeland. This statement followed a Washington Post article alleging that on September 2, Hegseth instructed defense officials to eliminate everyone on a monitored boat, marking the first in a series of strikes conducted in recent months under the Trump administration.

The White House asserted, without presenting evidence, that those killed on the Caribbean boats were involved in drug trafficking. After the report, Senators Roger Wicker (R) and Jack Reed (D) issued a joint statement confirming that the Senate Armed Services Committee would investigate the strikes. They said, The Committee is reviewing recent news reports and the Department of Defenses response regarding alleged operations on suspected narcotics vessels in the SOUTHCOM area. We are directing inquiries and will conduct thorough oversight to establish the facts.

According to the Post, during the September 2 operation led by Seal Team 6, a missile strike initially left two survivors clinging to debris. Adm. Frank Mitch Bradley, head of Special Operations Command, reportedly authorized a second strike to eliminate the survivors, following Hegseths orders. Experts and current or former officials have questioned the legality of these missile operations in the Caribbean.

To date, over 80 individuals have died in these military actions, targeting at least 22 vessels. Traditionally, the US has intercepted drug-trafficking boats and prosecuted suspected smugglers. The Trump administration labeled all people on the Caribbean boats as members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, alleging that the individuals posed a significant drug trafficking threat.

Hegseth stated on social media, Our objective is to halt lethal drug operations, destroy narcotics vessels, and neutralize traffickers threatening Americans. Every trafficker we eliminate is tied to a Designated Terrorist Organization. Earlier this year, Tren de Aragua was formally designated a terrorist organization. The administration also accused Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro of leading the Cartel de los Soles, a network involving Venezuelan government and military officials, though experts argue it is a loosely organized group without strict hierarchy.

The Trump administration cited fentanyl-related overdose deaths in the US as justification for the strikes, a claim disputed by lawmakers and experts since fentanyl does not originate in Venezuela. A recent Associated Press report questioned the administrations portrayal of those killed, noting that while some were involved in drugs, they were not narco-terrorists or gang leaders.

Venezuelan and international officials condemned the Caribbean operations as violations of due process, with Venezuelas UN ambassador labeling them extrajudicial executions. The Trump administration has repeatedly maintained that the alleged traffickers constitute a direct threat, framing the strikes as acts of self-defense on behalf of US allies.

Few survivors have emerged, including an Ecuadorian and a Colombian who were captured and returned home. An October strike off Mexicos Pacific coast prompted a Mexican navy search-and-rescue mission. Internally, the Department of Defense has expressed concerns over the legality of the strikes. A senior military lawyer opposed the administrations position and was subsequently sidelined. Adm. Alvin Holsey, who oversaw the attacks, resigned in October amid reports he had raised objections about the operations.

Analysis

From my perspective, the central issue raised by this report is not only the denial issued by the US Secretary of Defense, but the widening gap between official justifications and documented operational details. While the Pentagon insists the Caribbean strikes complied with US and international law, multiple current and former officials have publicly questioned that assessment.

The reported September 2 operation, including a second strike on survivors following an initial missile hit, has become a focal point for legal scrutiny. The confirmation of a Senate Armed Services Committee investigation underscores that these concerns are now institutional, not speculative.

Another key fact is the administration’s classification of all individuals on the targeted vessels as members of Tren de Aragua. Independent reporting and assessments from lawmakers and experts indicate that this designation was applied broadly, without clear evidence that those killed were terrorist leaders or posed an imminent threat.

Finally, internal dissent within the Department of Defense, including the sidelining of a senior military lawyer and the resignation of a senior admiral, suggests unresolved legal and ethical disagreements. These developments reinforce that the controversy surrounding the Caribbean strikes extends beyond public messaging and remains an active issue within US defense institutions.

Sources:

• Pete Hegseth denies he gave orders to ‘kill everybody’ on alleged ‘narco-boat’