In brief
During a cabinet meeting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended a controversial follow-up strike on a drug-laden boat in the Caribbean, stating he did not perceive survivors at the time. The incident has drawn congressional scrutiny, with Navy Vice Adm. Frank 'Mitch' Bradley set to brief lawmakers on military operations related to the strike.
At a White House cabinet meeting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the fallout from a follow-up military strike on a vessel suspected of drug smuggling earlier this year in the Caribbean. He referenced the 'fog of war' to explain his actions during the operation, asserting he was unaware of any survivors when the second strike was authorized. Hegseth stated, 'the thing was on fire,' and emphasized that he had complete confidence in the decision made by the commanding admiral. This defense comes amid reports from the Washington Post regarding a verbal order issued by Hegseth that resulted in civilian casualties. The White House later clarified that Vice Adm. Bradley acted within his legal authority during the strike. In light of these developments, lawmakers plan to conduct reviews of U.S. military actions related to drug smuggling, and Bradley is anticipated to provide critical insights in a forthcoming classified briefing.
