In brief
During a White House cabinet meeting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended a follow-up military strike on a suspected drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean, highlighting the 'fog of war' and the lack of awareness of survivors. Congressional reviews of the incident are set to take place, with an upcoming classified briefing from Navy Vice Adm. Frank 'Mitch' Bradley.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cited the 'fog of war' in defending a follow-up strike on an alleged drug-carrying boat in the Caribbean Sea earlier this year. During Tuesday's cabinet meeting at the White House, Hegseth remarked that he did not see survivors in the water when the second strike was ordered, stating that 'the thing was on fire.' He mentioned that he 'didn’t stick around' for the remainder of the mission after the first strike and supported the admiral's decision to proceed. The Washington Post reported that Hegseth had issued a verbal order for the second strike, which resulted in casualties among the survivors on the boat. The White House confirmed that Navy Vice Adm. Frank 'Mitch' Bradley acted 'within his authority and the law' when he ordered the strike. Congress has initiated reviews of the U.S. military's actions against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs, with Admiral Bradley scheduled for a classified briefing to lawmakers. President Trump expressed limited knowledge about the situation, stating he relies on Hegseth for information.
