Hegseth Defends Deadly Drug Boat Strikes: ‘Only Just Begun’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says U.S. military operations targeting drug-smuggling boats are far from over, following controversy over a second strike that killed survivors. The Trump administration faces bipartisan scrutiny over the escalating use of lethal force in anti-narcotics efforts. President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson responded to the controversy, as Trump also addressed last week’s National Guard shooting in D.C.
Key Takeaways (SEO-Friendly Bullet Points)
- Hegseth Vows More Strikes: “We’ve only just begun” hitting drug boats
- Controversial Strike: Survivors killed in second attack on drug-smuggling vessel
- White House Acknowledges Second Strike: Survivors were targeted again in September
- Trump Responds: Praises National Guard, calls D.C. “a safe place” despite shooting
- Speaker Johnson Weighs In: Urges caution; says Congress will investigate
- Adm. Mitch Bradley Named: Ordered second strike, backed by Hegseth
- Public Debate Intensifies: Human rights groups raise concerns over legality and transparency
- Cabinet Meeting Highlights: Officials praised Trump’s first-year accomplishments
Pete Hegseth Declares More Strikes Coming After Deadly Drug Boat Incident: Deep Look
WASHINGTON — December 2, 2025 — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled Tuesday that American military operations targeting alleged narco-trafficking boats will continue at full force, stating bluntly:
“We’ve only just begun striking narco-boats and putting narco-terrorists at the bottom of the ocean because they’ve been poisoning the American people.”
Hegseth made the comments during a Cabinet meeting led by President Donald Trump at the White House, where multiple officials praised the administration’s efforts on security, immigration, and defense.
The remarks came just days after a second U.S. strike on a previously disabled boat in the Caribbean was confirmed by the White House — an operation that killed survivors from the original attack.
Bipartisan Scrutiny Over Second Boat Strike
The September mission, which targeted a vessel suspected of transporting narcotics, has since drawn sharp bipartisan scrutiny. Survivors from the initial hit were reportedly alive before the second strike was ordered by Adm. Mitch Bradley, head of U.S. Special Operations Command.
While human rights organizations have criticized the escalation, Hegseth remains unapologetic. On his personal X account Monday night, he wrote:
“Let’s make one thing crystal clear: Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero… I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since.”
One source familiar with the incident confirmed that survivors were intentionally targeted in the follow-up strike.
Speaker Johnson: “Don’t Rush to Judgment”
House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the controversy during a press briefing, saying he would not “prejudge” the decision.
“In a preliminary review, Adm. Bradley thought it was necessary to complete the mission. He’s a highly respected leader,” Johnson said.
He added that Congress will likely investigate the full details, but emphasized that “second strikes are not unusual.”
Trump Praises National Guard Amid D.C. Shooting Fallout
Also during the Cabinet meeting, President Trump commented on last week’s deadly shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., which left Spc. Sarah Beckstrom dead and Spc. Andrew Wolfe hospitalized.
Trump said he had spoken with the families of both service members, praising their dedication and sacrifice.
“She was like a perfect human being,” Trump said of Beckstrom. “She was just 20 years old, so proud. This has devastated their family.”
Despite the tragedy, Trump added,
“Washington, D.C. has become a really safe place.”
High-Stakes Diplomacy Underway
While Hegseth defended battlefield decisions in the Caribbean, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff were in Moscow Tuesday for a high-level meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as part of renewed efforts to broker peace in Ukraine.
The Kremlin meeting follows Trump’s new 20-point peace proposal, revised from an earlier 28-point draft, as both sides look to end Russia’s prolonged war with Ukraine.
Background: Growing Concerns Over Use of Force
Since early September, over 80 people have been killed in U.S.-led maritime anti-narcotics operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Human rights watchdogs argue that the missions lack transparency and may violate international law if excessive or unnecessary force is used against unarmed or surrendered suspects.
The administration defends the strikes as essential to curbing fentanyl trafficking and cartel activity that has fueled the opioid crisis across the United States.
Critics Warn of Escalation
Legal analysts and former defense officials have warned that retaliatory follow-up strikes, especially involving survivors, may open the door to potential war crimes allegations depending on circumstances and intelligence justifications.
So far, the Trump administration maintains that every mission has been lawful and necessary to protect American lives.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.