US military strikes drug vessel in 22nd operation under Pete Hegseth

The US army carried out one other assault on a suspected drug ship operated by a Designated Terrorist Group, killing 4 narco-terrorists and marking the twenty second assault below Secretary of Conflict Pete Hegseth.

Thursday’s strike in opposition to a ship allegedly carrying medication is the primary strike in additional than two weeks and brings the full variety of deaths to 86.

“On December 4, Joint Activity Drive Southern Spear, led by @SecWar Pete Hegseth, performed a lethal kinetic assault on a ship in worldwide waters operated by a Designated Terrorist Group,” US Southern Command mentioned. “Intelligence confirmed that the ship was carrying illicit narcotics and was transiting a recognized drug smuggling route within the Japanese Pacific. 4 male narco-terrorists on board the ship have been killed.”

The US Southern Command shared a video of the assault on social media, displaying the assault on the alleged drug ship.

US CARRYING OUT 8TH STRIKE ON ALLEGED DRUG VESSEL, THIS TIME IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC, SAYS HEGSETH

The newest strike comes as lawmakers query one other U.S. assault on a suspected drug smuggling boat within the Caribbean, a Sept. 2 operation now below scrutiny for the way commanders dealt with survivors.

Admiral Mitch Bradley confirmed to lawmakers on Thursday that Hegseth had not ordered the killing of all survivors of anti-narcotics raids, strolling again a Washington Submit report that claimed he had ordered commanders to “kill all of them.”

Rep. Jim Himes mentioned Bradley confirmed that “there had been no order to kill all of them” and that no instruction had been given to grant no quarter, some extent echoed by Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton.

SPEC OPS CHIEF ORDERS DEADLY STRIKE IN THE CARIBBEAN ‘IN SELF-DEFENSE’ USING HEGSETH’S DRAWING, WHITE HOUSE SAYS

Secretary of Conflict Pete Hegseth arrives for a press convention on the Pentagon, June 22, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures)

Lawmakers who watched the complete video disagreed on what the video confirmed. Himes described the survivors as “castaways,” whereas Cotton mentioned the footage confirmed them “making an attempt to show their boat again round and proceed their mission.”

Senator Chris Coons mentioned it might be “troublesome to observe the collection of movies with out being bothered,” whereas Consultant Rick Crawford criticized Democrats who mentioned they have been involved, arguing they have been ignoring the fact of focusing on designated terrorists.

Different current strikes have led to completely different outcomes. In an October 16 operation that killed two folks, two survivors have been captured and despatched again to Colombia and Mexico.

Throughout a collection of assaults on October 27 that killed fourteen folks, one survivor was picked up by the Mexican Coast Guard. Cotton mentioned the protocol for interacting with survivors has remained constant since early September.

SENATE REPUBLICANS BLOCK SECONDARY EFFORTS TO STOP MILITARY ACTION AND DRUG BOAT ATTACKS IN THE CARIBBEAN

Conflict Secretary Pete Hegseth beforehand mentioned: “A complete of fourteen narco-terrorists have been killed within the three assaults, with one survivor.” (X.com/SecWar)

Authorized analysts expressed concern after studying that the September 2 survivors had been killed in a follow-up assault. They famous that the Pentagon’s Regulation of Conflict guide prohibits attacking people rendered “helpless” by wounds, sickness or shipwreck until they resume hostile motion.

Pentagon officers have advised that the survivors might need been in a position to name for reinforcements, an element that Bradley seen as a menace.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Hegseth has mentioned he watched the primary assault in actual time however didn’t see the second and was not concerned in authorizing it. He has insisted he helps Bradley’s resolution.

Fox Information Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.