Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced an intensified campaign against Latin American drug cartels, defended the strikes as lawful and necessary, and pushed back hard at media criticism while questions about presidential authority swirl in Washington.
Secretary Hegseth publicly revealed that the Trump administration is ramping up operations aimed at cartel networks across the Caribbean and Pacific, framing the effort as a direct response to the narcotics threat to the homeland. He made the announcement on social media and was blunt about the stakes, writing, “We have only just begun to kill narco-terrorists.”
The military operation, identified as Operation Southern Spear, has already seen a string of lethal actions against vessels suspected of facilitating drug smuggling in the Caribbean and Pacific. According to publicly available records, the strikes have resulted in at least 83 deaths after more than 20 separate hits since early September.
The White House has signaled it may take even bolder steps, including possibly considering land operations against Venezuela as part of broader pressure on trafficking networks. That escalation has predictably drawn scrutiny in Washington, where some lawmakers question whether the president can order such actions without Congress.
Hegseth also found himself at the center of a separate firestorm after a report claimed he ordered “to kill everybody” on a drug boat struck by U.S. forces in September. Critics seized on that phrasing to argue the campaign is reckless, but supporters argue those attacks target violent narco-terrorists who threaten Americans and our borders.
In response to the media coverage, Hegseth pushed back forcefully and framed the reporting as politically motivated and inaccurate. He said the administration is following the law and relying on military and civilian legal advice as it pursues these operations, stressing that the objective is to stop lethal drugs from reaching U.S. streets.
As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland. As we’ve said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be “lethal, kinetic strikes.” The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people. Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization.
Hegseth contrasted that stance with what he described as the previous administration’s “kid gloves approach,” arguing softer policies allowed cartels to grow bolder and more violent. He made the point plain and tersely: “Biden coddled terrorists, we kill them,” a line meant to underscore a clear break in policy and priorities.
Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict—and approved by the best military and civilian lawyers, up and down the chain of command. Our warriors in SOUTHCOM put their lives on the line every day to protect the Homeland from narco-terrorists — and I will ALWAYS have their back.
Supporters of the campaign argue that decisive, lawful force is the only effective way to disrupt transnational criminal networks that fund violence and fuel addiction in American communities. Opponents warn about escalation and legal risk, but Hegseth has made clear he will continue to back military commanders and authorize operations he deems necessary to protect the nation.
The public debate now centers on balancing aggressive action with legal oversight, and whether Congress will press for limits or lend backing to the administration’s strategy. Meanwhile, operational tempo appears to remain high as commanders and lawyers work through the approvals needed to sustain strikes and interdictions against narco-traffickers.
Exactly how far the campaign will go is still unfolding, with policymakers, military leaders, and legal advisers all involved in shaping the next moves. What is certain is that the administration is presenting this as a lawfully justified, mission-focused response to a direct national security threat and is prepared to defend that posture in public and in court if necessary.
