WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Defense asserts its operations in the Caribbean against suspected drug-smuggling vessels are lawful, directly countering a report published by The Washington Post that allegedly mischaracterized remarks attributed to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
According to spokesperson Kingsley Wilson, “Our operations in the Southern Command region are lawful under both U.S. and international law.” She emphasized compliance with the law of armed conflict regarding strikes against drug boats designated as threats.
Wilson stated the department has conducted “21 kinetic strikes,” labeling them necessary actions against illegal activities she claims involved “designated terrorist organizations.”
The administration, Wilson said, approved these measures through existing authorities. Vice Adm. Frank Bradley received backing from White House and Pentagon leadership, she added. Hegseth supports these military actions wholeheartedly.
“These actions have been vetted by the best legal minds,” Wilson noted, defending the follow-up strikes against individuals no longer posing an imminent threat.
But the official narrative directly refutes the Post’s reporting on a controversial second strike intended to target survivors of the initial attack. Wilson called it “fake news,” stating inaccurate stories were even attributed to the secretary who never made such comments.
The military department insists its commitment is real: “we have only just begun” enforcing stricter policies, she declared.
