WASHINGTON – Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has defended ongoing U.S. military strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea, framing them as a necessary deterrence effort rather than an overcorrection from past administrations.
The White House and Pentagon are facing scrutiny following reports that two back-to-back naval strikes near the coast were conducted to eliminate survivors of an initial attack on a drug-trafficking boat. Critics have questioned whether such tactics comply with international law, specifically arguing they could violate rules governing permissible targets in armed conflict under the laws of war.
Despite these concerns, Hegseth stood by Tuesday’s full Cabinet meeting remarks, where he characterized the campaign as targeting “narco-terrorists” and their boats. He asserted that designating cartels as terror organizations empowers commanders to take more aggressive actions against them without legal constraints typically applied in traditional military engagements.
“We’re taking the fight to these designated terror organizations,” Hegseth declared during a live broadcast on Newsmax Television. “Joe Biden tried to approach it with kid gloves and allowed them to come across the border.”
The operation, initially launched by Vice Admiral Frank Bradley under existing authorities without prior legal debates, involved two strikes following a September 2 incident where survivors from an earlier attack remained at sea.
Department of Defense press secretary Kingsley Wilson emphasized that all actions were lawful and approved by top military lawyers. “We’ve only just begun striking narco boats,” Wilson stated. However, Wilson also referred to the White House’s confirmation regarding Vice Adm. Bradley’s command role.
Hegseth echoed President Trump’s earlier support for unorthodox tactics against drug cartels in remarks that explicitly linked his administration’s stance to a direct policy reversal from prior years: “President Trump said, ‘No, we’re taking the gloves off,’ and that is precisely what is occurring.”
The provision of targeting individuals even after an immediate threat has passed raises significant legal questions for some experts and lawmakers. Critics argue such actions may constitute prohibited “extraordinary attacks” under international humanitarian law.
Hegseth concluded his statement by reaffirming support for military leadership involved in the operations, citing a direct order from President Trump: “‘We’re taking the gloves off,’ ‘We’re taking the fight to these designated terror organizations.’ And we have their backs.”
The Department of Defense continues to face criticism over these tactics.
