Washington: United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has defended the September military strike on a suspected drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean, saying he would have made the same decision, including the follow up strike that killed survivors. His comments came during an appearance at the Reagan National Defense Forum.
The attack has become the centre of a growing political and legal debate in Washington. According to lawmakers who viewed a classified video, the second strike targeted two men who were floating in the water after the first hit destroyed their vessel. They appeared shirtless and unarmed.
Human rights groups, legal experts and some members of Congress have questioned whether the second strike may have violated international law and the US military’s own rules. The US Law of War Manual prohibits targeting shipwreck survivors who are no longer able to fight or pose a threat.
Hegseth said the military operation is part of the government’s goal to stop drug cartels that smuggle narcotics toward the United States. He also stated that his focus is on protecting Americans and disrupting criminal networks.
The administration says the September attack was one of 22 strikes carried out in the region this year against suspected trafficking vessels. Reports suggest at least 87 people have been killed through these missions.
Since the strike became public, pressure has grown for the full video to be released. Hegseth has not committed to making the footage public, saying the decision is still under review.
Some new reports claim the targeted vessel may have been heading toward Suriname, not directly toward the United States. This detail has raised more questions about whether the strike met the standard of an immediate threat.
The Pentagon has confirmed that another suspected drug vessel was struck this week, killing four people. This indicates that the campaign is ongoing despite the controversy.
As investigations continue, lawmakers from both parties are calling for greater oversight. Some legal experts say the strike could face examination under war crime statutes if it is proven that survivors were deliberately targeted after being disabled and unable to resist.
The White House has not issued a formal statement on the matter, and congressional reviews are expected to continue in the coming weeks.