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Hegseth Cites 'Fog of War' to Defend Contested September Double‑Tap Strike

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended a follow-up U.S. strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean, saying "the fog of war" kept him from seeing survivors after the initial attack. The Pentagon said 11 people were aboard; officials say more than 20 similar maritime strikes have killed over 80 people. Bipartisan congressional inquiries are probing whether so-called "double tap" strikes violated the laws of war while the White House defends the operations.

04:15 AM, 12/03/2025Conflict
Hegseth Cites 'Fog of War' to Defend Contested September Double‑Tap Strike

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended a follow-up U.S. strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean in September, saying "the fog of war" prevented him from seeing whether survivors remained after the first attack.

"I didn't personally see survivors," Hegseth told reporters during a White House Cabinet meeting. "The thing was on fire. It was exploded in fire and smoke. You can’t see it."

According to Pentagon statements, the vessel carried 11 people at the time of the strikes. U.S. officials say the military has since carried out more than 20 maritime strikes against vessels it identified as part of narcotics trafficking routes, and that those operations have resulted in more than 80 deaths.

Hegseth's account

At the Cabinet meeting, Hegseth said he watched the first strike live but then left for other meetings and did not personally observe any survivors. He said he did not witness the second strike in real time and learned about that action afterward. Despite not seeing survivors himself, Hegseth expressed support for the operational decision and praised the commander who ordered the follow-up attack.

"Adm. Bradley made the correct decision to ultimately sink the boat and eliminate the threat. We have his back," Hegseth said.

Political and legal scrutiny

Bipartisan inquiries in both the House and the Senate have opened amid criticism that "double tap" strikes — attacking a target a second time after an initial strike — could amount to a war crime if they knowingly killed survivors of the first attack. Lawmakers are seeking detailed information about the decision-making, timing, rules of engagement and legal basis for these operations.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Hegseth had authorized Adm. Frank Bradley, the Special Operations commander, to direct the strikes. President Donald Trump publicly defended Hegseth and said he would defer to the defense secretary on operational specifics. The president also warned the U.S. could expand similar actions to land targets to disrupt drug trafficking, and he confirmed a recent phone call with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without offering details.

Supporters of the strikes describe them as targeted actions against narco-trafficking networks. Critics, including legal experts and some lawmakers, warn the tactics raise serious humanitarian and legal concerns. Congressional investigators continue to press the Pentagon and the White House for fuller accounts of what happened and why additional strikes were authorized.

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