White House distances Hegseth from second strike on alleged drug boat – US politics live | Pete Hegseth
White House distances defense secretary from second alleged drug ship attack
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. A senior US Navy commander, not the defense secretary, ordered a second round of strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug ship on September 2 Pete HegsethThe White House said this.
The Washington Post reported He said a second attack was ordered to take out the two survivors of the first attack and to comply with Hegseth’s order that everyone be killed.
Amid accusations that the defense secretary ordered war crimes, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said yesterday that Hegseth authorized the attacks but did not order “to kill everyone” as stated in the report.
Leavit said:
Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic attacks. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and within the law governing the conflict to ensure that the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States eliminated.
When asked by a journalist to explain that the strike was not an example of a war crime, Leavitt again defended the actions, saying they were “carried out in international waters and in accordance with the law of armed conflict.”
US Navy Vice Admiral frank bradleyThe Prime Minister, who served as Joint Special Operations Commander at the time of the attack, will give a confidential briefing to MPs on Thursday.
Hegseth pledges support to Bradley a social media post This makes it seem like the decision was made by the commander and not by him.
“Let’s make one thing clear: Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand with him and his war decisions during the 9/2 mission and the war decisions he has made since. America is lucky to have men like us protecting us,” Hegseth wrote.
The chairmen of both the Senate and House armed services committees announced an investigation into the allegations; Few details have been released at this time about who or what is on board.
Since September, US airstrikes have targeted boats allegedly smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean, killing at least 83 people.
The Trump administration has provided no concrete evidence to support the claims behind its deadly behavior, and numerous experts have questioned the legality of the operations.
important events
Despite an apparent willingness to keep diplomatic channels open, tensions between Washington and Caracas remain high due to US attacks on alleged drug ships in the Caribbean as well as a major US military build-up in the region.
Nicolas Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, said Donald Trump wanted to depose him and warned that Venezuelan citizens and the military would resist such attempts.
He said Monday that Venezuelans were ready “to defend the country and lead it on the path of peace.” The President of Venezuela said, “For 22 weeks, we have experienced an attack that can only be described as psychological terrorism.”
Maduro is accused of stealing his country’s elections last year, which the opposition and much of the international community say he lost. and the unleashing of a deadly repression campaign that followed.
The Trump administration is weighing options on Venezuela to combat what it portrays as Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that are killing Americans. Maduro has denied any connection with the illegal drug trade.
Donald Trump also confirmed that he spoke with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Sunday, but did not provide details about what the two leaders discussed.
“You can save yourself and those closest to you, but you must leave the country immediately,” Trump reportedly said during the meeting. Miami HeraldMaduro offers safe passage to his wife and son “if they agree to resign immediately.”
However, Maduro reportedly refused to resign immediately and made a series of counter-demands, including worldwide immunity from prosecution.
Responding to questions about Air Force One on Sunday, Donald Trump said his administration would “look into” reports of a second attack on the boat, allegedly on Sept. 2. But the president was quoted as saying: “I wouldn’t want that, I wouldn’t want a second attack.”
White House distances defense secretary from second alleged drug ship attack
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. A senior US Navy commander, not the defense secretary, ordered a second round of strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug ship on September 2 Pete HegsethThe White House said this.
The Washington Post reported He said a second attack was ordered to take out the two survivors of the first attack and to comply with Hegseth’s order that everyone be killed.
Amid accusations that the defense secretary ordered war crimes, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said yesterday that Hegseth authorized the attacks but did not order “to kill everyone” as stated in the report.
Leavit said:
Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic attacks. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and within the law governing the conflict to ensure that the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States eliminated.
When asked by a journalist to explain that the strike was not an example of a war crime, Leavitt again defended the actions, saying they were “carried out in international waters and in accordance with the law of armed conflict.”
US Navy Vice Admiral frank bradleyThe Prime Minister, who served as Joint Special Operations Commander at the time of the attack, will give a confidential briefing to MPs on Thursday.
Hegseth pledges support to Bradley a social media post This makes it seem like the decision was made by the commander and not by him.
“Let’s make one thing clear: Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand with him and his war decisions during the 9/2 mission and the war decisions he has made since. America is lucky to have men like us protecting us,” Hegseth wrote.
The chairmen of both the Senate and House armed services committees announced an investigation into the allegations; Few details have been released at this time about who or what is on board.
Since September, US airstrikes have targeted boats allegedly smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean, killing at least 83 people.
The Trump administration has provided no concrete evidence to support the claims behind its deadly behavior, and numerous experts have questioned the legality of the operations.
