White House confirms second strike against Caribbean drug smugglers

The White Home confirmed and defended finishing up a second strike in opposition to suspected drug smugglers within the Caribbean in September, amid the Trump administration’s campaign in opposition to the movement of medication into the US.

The White Home assertion comes after the Washington Publish reported Friday that Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth had verbally ordered {that a} September 2 strike would kill everybody aboard the suspected drug boat, drawing criticism from lawmakers who’re calling for additional oversight of the strikes. The Publish reported {that a} second assault was carried out to remove 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 assault had taken place, telling reporters on Monday that the September 2 assault was carried out “in self-defense” in worldwide waters “in accordance with the legislation of armed battle.”

HEGSETH SAYS US HAVE STRUGGLED ANOTHER STRIKE IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC TARGETING ALLEGED NARCO TRAFFICKER

The White Home mentioned Monday that Hegseth licensed the second strike, however that the pinnacle of U.S. Particular Operations Command, Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley, ordered and directed it. On the time of the assault, Bradley was commander of the Joint Particular Operations Command, which falls beneath the US Particular Operations Command.

The White Home confirmed and defended the execution of a second strike in opposition to suspected drug smugglers within the Caribbean in September. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures)

“On September 2, Secretary Hegseth licensed Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes,” Leavitt mentioned. “Working effectively inside his authority and inside the legislation, Admiral Bradley led the command to make sure the boat was destroyed and the menace to the USA of America was eradicated.”

When requested to verify that Bradley was the one who ordered the second assault, Leavitt mentioned it was “effectively inside his authority to take action” however declined to disclose whether or not the second assault was ordered as a result of there have been survivors from the primary assault.

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 might reject the Secretary of Battle ever saying that,” Leavitt mentioned. “Nonetheless, the president has made it very clear that if narco-terrorists once more smuggle unlawful medication into the USA, he has the authority to kill them.”

The White Home mentioned Monday that Hegseth licensed the second strike, however that the pinnacle of U.S. Particular Operations Command, Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley, ordered and directed it. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Pictures)

US MILITARY KILLS 2 SUSPECTED NARCO TERRORISTS IN 16TH EASTERN PACIFIC STRIKE, HEGSETH SAYS

The White Home’s statements on this challenge don’t absolutely mirror these of the Pentagon. On Friday, the Pentagon denied the Publish’s reporting in its entirety.

“We instructed the Washington Publish yesterday that this whole story was false,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell mentioned in a social media put up Friday. “These individuals are simply making up nameless tales off the cuff. Pretend Information is the enemy of the folks.”

The Pentagon didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Fox Information Digital.

Navy Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, incoming commander of U.S. Particular Operations Command, delivers remarks in the course of the USSOCOM Change of Command Ceremony in Tampa, Florida, Oct. 3, 2025. (Monique Stober)

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In the meantime, the report has prompted lawmakers on either side of the aisle to ask further questions in regards to the operations and push for extra oversight.

“This committee is dedicated to 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, mentioned in an announcement Saturday. “We take studies of follow-up assaults on boats allegedly transporting narcotics within the SOUTHCOM area critically and are taking bipartisan motion to realize a full overview of the operation in query.”

The US killed six alleged drug traffickers on a ship in worldwide waters close to Venezuela, President Donald Trump introduced on October 14, 2025. (realDonaldTrump/Reality Social)

Spokespeople for the fee didn’t reply to a request for remark from Fox Information Digital in regards to the nature of those further oversight efforts.

As well as, the highest Democrat on the Senate International Relations Committee, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., mentioned Monday that she can be calling for an investigation into the matter, saying Hegseth “owes solutions to the American folks instantly.”

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The Trump administration has carried out greater than 20 assaults on suspected drug boats in Latin American waters and has beefed up its navy presence within the Caribbean to align with Trump’s objective of cracking down on the movement of medication into the US.

The White Home additionally confirmed Monday that Trump will maintain a gathering Monday night to debate future actions relating to Venezuela.