US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he “did not personally see survivors” on an alleged Venezuelan drug-trafficking boat before a second strike was carried out. He made the statement as the Trump administration came under pressure from lawmakers for using military force in a controversial way.

Reports say the first strike left two people clinging to the burning boat. A second attack was then ordered, which allegedly killed them. The incident, which reportedly happened on September 2, has raised serious concerns that the US may have violated the laws of armed conflict.

During a Cabinet meeting, Hegseth described the situation as chaotic and confusing. He blamed the incident on the “fog of war.” Meanwhile, the White House repeated that the second strike was approved by a senior US Navy official, Admiral Frank Bradley.

“I Did Not Personally See Survivors”: Hegseth

When a journalist questioned him during the Cabinet meeting, Hegseth explained that he saw the first strike happen “live.” However, he was not present when the second attack took place.

“I did not personally see survivors. That thing was on fire and it exploded… you can’t see anything. This is called the fog of war,” the secretary said.

He added that he only became aware of the second strike a couple of hours later. At that point, he was told that Admiral Bradley had made what he called a “correct decision” to strike the boat again.

Trump Supports Admiral but Distances Himself

President Donald Trump defended Admiral Bradley’s actions. At the same time, he tried to separate himself from the decision to order the second strike. “We didn’t know about” the follow-on attack, Trump said.

He then added a strong remark about how he wants such boats handled in the future, “And I can say this: I want those boats taken out.”

His comments made it clear that the administration is taking a tough approach toward alleged drug trafficking operations.

“We’ve Only Just Begun,” Says Hegseth

Hegseth made it clear that the United States plans to continue striking suspected drug boats. He said this is only the beginning of a larger campaign against drug traffickers.

“We’ve only just begun striking narco boats and putting narco-terrorists at the bottom of the ocean, because they’ve been poisoning the American people,” Hegseth said during the same Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Despite the growing criticism, he defended the strategy. He argued that the recent slowdown in strikes is not due to hesitation, but because fewer boats are now visible.

“We’ve had a bit of a pause because it’s hard to find boats to strike right now – which is the entire point, right? Deterrence has to matter,” Hegseth said.

Growing Debate Over Use of Force

The incident has triggered a strong debate in the US. Critics say the second strike could amount to an extrajudicial killing and may have broken international rules of war. Supporters argue that decisive action is needed to stop drug traffickers.

As pressure increases from lawmakers and human rights groups, the Trump administration continues to defend its position, saying it is focused on protecting the American people from illegal drugs.

For now, the controversy remains unresolved, with many demanding greater transparency and accountability in future military operations.