Pentagon defends drug boat strikes during rare press briefing

The Department of Defense on Tuesday doubled down on the Trump administration’s ongoing strikes against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. U.S. intelligence officers confirmed the identities of drug smugglers aboard boats before conducting lethal strikes, Pentagon spokeswoman Kingsley Wilson said on Tuesday. They knew what the boats were carrying and where they were going beyond a doubt, she said.

Wilson also reiterated Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s previous denial of The Washington Post’s claims that in early September he ordered a follow-up strike on one boat to kill survivors. The Pentagon responded to the newspaper’s request for comment on short notice, denying the claims, she said. But the Post still published what she characterized as a false report citing anonymous sources.

What is the controversy around a second-strike? Some lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have suggested that the second strike, which killed survivors of the initial strike, may have constituted a war crime. On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged that a second strike took place, but said Adm. Frank Bradley was the one who ordered the strike. Wilson added that Hegseth stands behind Bradley’s decision, which she said was entirely legal.

Hegseth met with Republican Mississippi U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, who previously said he’d help lead an investigation into the incident, she said. Hegseth explained his information and reasoning behind the strikes, she said, though she did not give details on Wicker’s response.

President Donald Trump and Hegseth personally directed all the strikes, according to Wilson. The chain of command functioned as it should under the commander-in-chief, though he and Hegseth were open to feedback from military authorities, Wilson said.

What updates did Wilson give about ongoing investigations? The department is evaluating allegations of misconduct against Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy veteran, over a video in which he told troops to resist illegal orders. Navy Secretary John Phelan would update Hegseth on his findings Dec. 10, and Hegseth would decide whether to pursue military discipline, Wilson said. All options, including court-martial, were on the table, she said.

The department expected to publish a report on its investigation into the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan by summer 2026, she said. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, a veteran of fighting in Afghanistan, was heading the investigation, she said.

Dig deeper: Read Liz Lykins’ report on the controversy surrounding the follow-up strike on a drug boat.