At the Reagan National Defense Forum, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed questions regarding U.S. military strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-trafficking vessels as part of Operation Southern Spear. The operation has targeted groups designated as terrorist organizations by President Trump, with over 22 strikes carried out against 23 vessels, resulting in at least 87 confirmed fatalities.

Fox News Correspondent Lucas Tomlinson asked Hegseth if he had ever ordered that everyone on board should be killed. Hegseth firmly denied the claim, questioning the reliability of sources and pointing to the Washington Post’s reporting as inaccurate. “Of course not!” he stated, emphasizing that the strikes were tactical responses to active threats, not indiscriminate attacks.

Hegseth explained that all missions undergo exhaustive pre-strike reviews, ensuring adherence to international law, operational rules of engagement, and threat assessment protocols. The re-strike mentioned in media reports was conducted as a standard procedure against confirmed hostile vessels and was consistent with long-standing military practices for neutralizing ongoing threats at sea.

Operation Southern Spear demonstrates the United States’ commitment to combating transnational criminal networks that threaten American security and regional stability. Officials have highlighted that these coordinated operations not only disrupt illicit drug trafficking but also protect U.S. interests and allies in the Western Hemisphere, underscoring the strategic precision and discipline of U.S. forces under Secretary Hegseth’s oversight.