In a controversial move, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly ordered a lethal strike in the Caribbean that left no survivors. This directive followed a previous attack on a vessel suspected of carrying narcotics, according to a report by the Washington Post.
As detailed by the Post, the second strike was authorized by Hegseth and executed by SEAL Team 6 after spotting two survivors from the initial attack. The first assault had originally targeted a boat carrying 11 individuals off the coast of Trinidad.
“The order was to kill everybody,” a source familiar with the operation stated to the Post.
The Pentagon has declined to comment on the Post report or any related operations in the Caribbean, according to Military.com.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell has refuted the report, describing it as “completely false.” “Ongoing operations to dismantle narcoterrorism and to protect the Homeland from deadly drugs have been a resounding success,” Parnell stated.
Protocol Change
Adm. Frank M. “Mitch” Bradley, who was reportedly in command of the mission, allegedly justified the second strike by suggesting that the survivors might alert other drug traffickers to recover them and any remaining cargo.
Following the September incident, military protocols were reportedly revised to prioritize rescuing survivors. In an October 16 operation, two survivors were captured and later transferred to Ecuador and Colombia.
Since September, U.S. forces have intercepted at least 22 vessels, resulting in 83 fatalities. President Donald Trump and Hegseth assert these actions target “narco-traffickers” aiming to smuggle illegal drugs into the United States.
Critics argue the increased military presence in the region could be a strategic maneuver to challenge Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s rule.
Recent reports indicate Trump and Maduro have engaged in discussions about a possible face-to-face meeting.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has openly criticized U.S. actions in the Caribbean and suggested similar talks with regional partners and the U.S. The White House, however, responded dismissively, with a spokesperson labeling Petro as “an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs.”
