Controversial Strike Killed 11 On Suspected Drug Boat; Lando Norris Clinches First F1 Title — Weekend Rundown

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to order a second strike on Sept. 2 that killed 11 people aboard a suspected drug-smuggling vessel touched off a fierce debate over U.S. targeting policies, while high-profile sports and domestic stories rounded out a turbulent weekend of headlines.

Military Strike And Political Fallout

U.S. military and intelligence officials told lawmakers that the people killed were on an internal list of so-called "narco-terrorists" and that commanders determined they could be lawfully targeted, according to two U.S. officials and a person familiar with the briefings. The commander who oversaw the operation provided those details in congressional briefings.

Legal and military advisers drew a distinction between an order to strike people named on a vetted intelligence list and a prohibited "no quarter" directive — an illegal command to kill enemy combatants without mercy even if they surrender or are gravely wounded. Officials argue that targeting individuals on a validated list is not inherently illegal under U.S. or international law.

At the Reagan National Defense Forum, Hegseth defended the follow-up strike, saying he had left the room after the first attack and before the second order was issued but that he would have made the same decision. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) reiterated his support on NBC’s "Meet the Press," arguing the initial survivors were not incapacitated and that such strikes should continue.

"Any boat loaded with drugs that is crewed by associates and members of foreign terrorist organizations that are trying to kill American kids, I think, is a valid target," Cotton said.

But other lawmakers pressed for transparency. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) called on the Pentagon to release video of the operation: "If the Pentagon and our defense secretary is so proud of what they’re doing, let the American people see that video," he said.

Domestic News: Flooding And Politics

Authorities released nearly 600 911 calls tied to catastrophic flash flooding in Texas Hill Country on July 4. The floods killed more than 130 people, including 28 campers at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ sleepaway camp. The recordings capture frantic pleas for help and requests for search-and-rescue as the Guadalupe River surged.

In Washington, Republicans privately and publicly voiced concern about an uneven message on affordability as the party prepares for midterms. Some GOP voices urged a sharper economic pitch; Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) warned that voters know when costs are too high and urged the party to deliver policy solutions. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) criticized redistricting battles, likening them to historical episodes that eroded voting rights after Reconstruction.

The Biden and Trump administrations’ policies also featured in weekend coverage: the administration updated fee-free days at national parks (removing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, adding Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Donald Trump’s birthdays), and Florida remained a focal point of mid-decade redistricting.

Sports Headlines

Lando Norris captured his first Formula 1 world championship in the final race of 2025, finishing the season ahead of Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri after a tense Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Norris rode a measured strategy, securing the podium he needed while managing pressure and late-race traffic.

In MLS, Lionel Messi provided two assists as Inter Miami beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 to win the club’s first league title. In college football, Alabama and Miami earned spots in the 12-team College Football Playoff; Indiana secured the top seed after a 13-10 victory over Ohio State.

Other Notable Items

Immigration enforcement data released this year show that more than a third of roughly 220,000 people arrested by ICE between Jan. 20 and Oct. 15 had no criminal histories. Internationally, Benin’s interior minister said security services foiled an apparent coup attempt after soldiers briefly appeared on state television. In the U.K., the Tower of London temporarily closed after activists smeared food on a display case holding a crown jewel, and actress Sydney Sweeney publicly addressed controversy over an American Eagle advertisement.

This roundup was originally published on NBCNews.com.