The White House has publicly defended the Pentagon’s actions following a September 2 attack on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking. Reports surfaced suggesting that an order had been issued to “kill everybody” on board, leading to accusations of potential war crimes. In response, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed that there were two strikes on the vessel, asserting that the actions were lawful amidst a growing opioid crisis in the United States.
Leavitt clarified that the order for the second strike originated from U.S. Navy Admiral Frank Bradley, not from Hegseth, who has faced increased scrutiny following a Washington Post report alleging his involvement in the orders. “The president has made it quite clear that if narco-terrorists are trafficking illegal drugs towards the United States, he has the authority to kill them,” Leavitt stated during the press briefing.
The military’s campaign against suspected drug traffickers in the region has resulted in over 80 fatalities, which has raised significant legal and ethical questions. Critics argue that the operations amount to extrajudicial killings. The campaign has expanded to include targets in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and there has been ongoing speculation regarding possible military actions against land targets in Venezuela.
The bipartisan leaders of the House and Senate armed services committees announced their intention to investigate the circumstances surrounding the second strike. Leavitt noted that Hegseth had communicated with congressional members regarding concerns raised over the weekend about the attacks.
In a related development, President Trump convened his national security team on the same day to deliberate on the evolving situation in Venezuela. The U.S. military has significantly increased its presence in the region, prompting discussions about a broader military strategy aimed at potentially unseating Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading a drug-trafficking organization known as the Cartel de los Soles, which the U.S. designated as a foreign terrorist organization in November. Survivors of an October strike were repatriated to Ecuador and Colombia, and when questioned about U.S. policy concerning these individuals, Leavitt stated, “Not to my knowledge, no,” indicating no changes had occurred.
In November, a group of six Democratic Congress members released a video urging military personnel to disobey unlawful orders, although they did not specify any particular command. This prompted President Trump to accuse the lawmakers of sedition, suggesting their actions could be punishable by death.
Furthermore, Hegseth directed Navy Secretary John Phelan to investigate Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona for his comments regarding military conduct, hinting that the former Navy captain could face court-martial proceedings.
The ongoing dialogue around these military operations highlights the complex intersection of national security, drug trafficking, and ethical military engagement, as the U.S. navigates its approach to combating narco-terrorism in the region.
