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Hegseth Defends Lethal Caribbean Strikes: "Biden coddled terrorists — we kill them"

Pete Hegseth defended lethal strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, writing on X that "Biden coddled terrorists, we kill them." Reports say a second strike on Sept. 2 followed an initial attack that left two survivors; a commander reportedly ordered the follow-up because the survivors could contact other traffickers. Hegseth insisted the operations are lawful and vowed continued action against "narco-terrorists," while President Trump said the U.S. will soon begin stopping suspected Venezuelan traffickers by land.

02:12 AM, 11/30/2025Security
Hegseth Defends Lethal Caribbean Strikes: "Biden coddled terrorists — we kill them"

Pete Hegseth defended the Trump administration's use of lethal strikes against suspected drug-running vessels in the Caribbean, posting on X that "Biden coddled terrorists, we kill them." His comments followed media reports that the U.S. military carried out a second strike on Sept. 2 after an initial attack left two survivors aboard a suspected narco-boat.

According to those reports, a commander who supervised the operation told colleagues on a secure call that the two survivors remained legitimate targets because they might be able to contact other traffickers for assistance. The commander reportedly said he ordered the follow-up strike to follow a directive from Hegseth that everyone aboard should be killed.

Hegseth's defense

Hegseth dismissed critical coverage as biased and defended the policy as intentionally forceful and lawful. He wrote that the strikes were "lethal, kinetic strikes" aimed at stopping deadly drugs, destroying narco-boats and killing "narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people." He added that the operations are "lawful under both U.S. and international law," and said they were reviewed and approved by military and civilian attorneys throughout the chain of command.

"As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland," Hegseth wrote.

In a separate post, he added: "We have only just begun to kill narco-terrorists."

Presidential remarks and policy direction

President Donald Trump has also spoken about stepped-up efforts to disrupt drug flows, saying the U.S. will "very soon" begin stopping suspected Venezuelan traffickers by land and claiming that around 85% of shipments had been stopped at sea. He suggested a new emphasis on land interdiction would begin soon.

Legal and political implications

The reported use of repeated strikes against survivors raises complex legal and ethical questions about targeting rules, proportionality and the treatment of potential noncombatants. Supporters argue the tactics are necessary to disrupt deadly drug networks; critics warn of serious legal and humanitarian risks and of escalating use of force without clear public accountability.

The Biden administration has not issued a public comment on these specific reports. The story remains politically charged and likely to spur further review and debate over the scope and oversight of such operations.

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