War Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a response Friday following a report alleging that the Department of War ordered secondary strikes on narcoterrorists in the Caribbean Sea and that U.S. forces acted without legal justification.
The Washington Post report claimed that during a September 2 operation, SEAL Team 6 targeted narcoterrorists and that Hegseth gave a verbal order “to kill everybody.”
The strike killed 11 individuals designated as terrorists.
The report stated that “as two men clung to a stricken, burning ship targeted by SEAL Team 6, the Joint Special Operations commander followed the defense secretary’s order to leave no survivors,” according to an anonymous source cited in the article.
President Donald Trump posted footage from the September 2 strike at the time, writing, “Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!”
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Nearly three months after the operation, sources quoted by the Washington Post compared the strike to “murder” and a “war crime.”
Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts said the actions were “blatantly illegal,” adding, “Mark my words: It may take some time, but Americans will be prosecuted for this, either as a war crime or outright murder.”
Six Democratic lawmakers recently made public statements warning service members that they “can refuse illegal orders,” implying that President Trump had issued unlawful commands.
The lawmakers did not specify which orders they considered illegal.
Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan said in a recent appearance that President Trump “has not given a single illegal order to members of the military.”
Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a retired Navy captain, is under investigation by the Department of War and faces potential recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings.
According to the Department, Kelly is being investigated for alleged violations of federal law, including 18 U.S.C. § 2387, which prohibits actions intended to interfere with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces.
CNN reported Friday on developments in Venezuela and discussed the narcoterrorism operation. Former Deputy Director of National Intelligence Beth Sanner said the reporting was “really shocking,” if true.
She compared the actions described to Russian forces killing Ukrainian prisoners and to reports of civilian deaths in Gaza. She also questioned whether service members might be prosecuted.
The United States has increased operations targeting Venezuelan narcoterrorists and the Maduro regime. Current actions include strikes at sea, with possible future strikes on land and air operations.
On Saturday, President Trump declared airspace in and around Venezuela “CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” addressing the warning to “Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers.”
To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2025
Hegseth issued his full response Friday, saying recent reporting was “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory.”
He said the operations were lawful and aligned with stated mission objectives involving “lethal, kinetic strikes.”
Hegseth stated, “We have only just begun to kill narco-terrorists,” in an additional post.
We have only just begun to kill narco-terrorists.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) November 28, 2025
His full statement read:
“As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.
As we’ve said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be ‘lethal, kinetic strikes.’ The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people. Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization.
The Biden administration preferred the kid gloves approach, allowing millions of people — including dangerous cartels and unvetted Afghans — to flood our communities with drugs and violence. The Trump administration has sealed the border and gone on offense against narco-terrorists. Biden coddled terrorists, we kill them.
Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict — and approved by the best military and civilian lawyers, up and down the chain of command.
Our warriors in SOUTHCOM put their lives on the line every day to protect the Homeland from narco-terrorists — and I will ALWAYS have their back.”
As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.
As we’ve said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically…
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) November 28, 2025
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