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The White Home confirmed and defended conducting a second strike in opposition to alleged drug smugglers within the Caribbean in September, amid the Trump administration’s campaign focusing on the inflow of medicine into the U.S.
The White Home’s assertion comes after the Washington Put up reported Friday that Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth verbally ordered {that a} Sept. 2 assault kill everybody on board the alleged drug boat, drawing scrutiny from lawmakers who’re requesting further oversight into the strikes. The Put up reported {that a} second strike was carried out to take out the remaining survivors on the boat.
Though the Pentagon pushed again in opposition to the report, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t deny {that a} second strike occurred and advised reporters Monday that the strike Sept. 2 was carried out “in self-defense” in worldwide waters “in accordance with the regulation of armed battle.”
HEGSETH SAYS US CONDUCTED ANOTHER STRIKE IN EASTERN PACIFIC TARGETING ALLEGED NARCO-TRAFFICKERS
The White Home stated Monday that Hegseth licensed the second strike, however the head of U.S. Particular Operations Command, Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, ordered and directed it. On the time of the strike, Bradley was serving because the commander of Joint Particular Operations Command, which falls beneath U.S. Particular Operations Command.
The White Home confirmed and defended conducting a second strike in opposition to alleged drug smugglers within the Caribbean in September. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos)
“On September 2nd, Secretary Hegseth licensed Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes,” Leavitt stated. “Admiral Bradley labored nicely inside his authority and the regulation, directing the engagement to make sure the boat was destroyed and the risk to the US of America was eradicated.”
When requested to verify that Bradley was the one who ordered the second strike, Leavitt stated that he was “nicely inside his authority to take action,” however declined to reveal whether or not the second strike was ordered as a result of there have been survivors remaining from the primary strike.
Leavitt additionally disputed that Hegseth ever gave an preliminary order to make sure that everybody on board was killed, when requested particularly about Hegseth’s directions.
“I’d reject that the secretary of Battle ever stated that,” Leavitt stated. “Nevertheless, the president has made it fairly clear that if narco-terrorists, once more, are trafficking unlawful medication towards the US, he has the authority to kill them.”
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt scolded New York Instances correspondent Katie Rogers on Monday. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos)
US MILITARY KILLS 2 SUSPECTED NARCO-TERRORISTS IN 16TH EASTERN PACIFIC STRIKE, HEGSETH SAYS
The White Home’s statements on the matter don’t fully align with the Pentagon’s. On Friday, the Pentagon denied the Put up’s reporting in its entirety.
“We advised the Washington Put up that this whole narrative was false yesterday,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated in a submit on social media Friday. “These individuals simply fabricate anonymously sourced tales out of entire material. Pretend Information is the enemy of the individuals.”
The Pentagon didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Fox Information Digital.
U.S. Navy Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, incoming commander, U.S. Particular Operations Command, delivers remarks through the USSOCOM Change of Command Ceremony in Tampa, Florida, October 3, 2025. (Monique Stober)
TRUMP SAYS HE BELIEVES HEGSETH ‘100%’ ON VENEZUELAN DRUG BOAT STRIKE DENIAL AMID ALLEGATIONS
In the meantime, the report has prompted lawmakers on either side of the aisle to ask further questions concerning the operations, and press for added oversight.
“This committee is dedicated to offering rigorous oversight of the Division of Protection’s navy operations within the Caribbean,” Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Adam Smith, D-Wash., who lead the Home Armed Providers Committee, stated in a press release on Saturday. “We take critically the stories of follow-on strikes on boats alleged to be ferrying narcotics within the SOUTHCOM area and are taking bipartisan motion to assemble a full accounting of the operation in query.”
The U.S. killed six alleged drug traffickers on a ship in worldwide waters close to Venezuela, President Donald Trump introduced Oct. 14, 2025. (realDonaldTrump/Fact Social)
Spokespeople for the committee didn’t reply to a request for remark from Fox Information Digital concerning the character of those further oversight efforts.
Moreover, the highest Democrat on the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., stated Monday that she is asking for an investigation into the matter as nicely, and stated that Hegseth “owes solutions to the American individuals instantly.”
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The Trump administration has carried out greater than 20 strikes in opposition to alleged drug boats in Latin American waters, and has bolstered its navy presence within the Caribbean to align with Trump’s aim to crack down on the inflow of medicine into the U.S.
The White Home additionally confirmed Monday that Trump is slated to carry a gathering on Monday night to debate future actions regarding Venezuela.
