Trump says ‘we’re going to begin doing these strikes on land too’ as he talks about assaults on suspected drug boats | EUROtoday

President Donald Trump mentioned the U.S. would begin “doing those strikes on land” when talking about U.S. army operations towards alleged drug-carrying boats from Venezuela.

“We’re doing these [sea] strikes and we’re going to start doing those strikes on land, too, you know, the land is much easier, much easier,” Trump said Tuesday.

His comments come as the Pentagon faces scrutiny over a strike against an alleged drug boat in September.

During Trump’s Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. has “only just begun striking Narco boats,” amidst growing questions about his role in authorizing the September strike in the Caribbean Sea.

Following an initial strike against the ship, two survivors were spotted, The Washington Post reported. A Joint Special Operations commander overseeing the attack then ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s earlier instructions to “kill everybody,” according to the report.

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A Pentagon spokesperson known as the narrative “completely false.”

Hegseth additionally mentioned Tuesday that he “didn’t stick around” for the rest of the mission following the primary strike, and mentioned the admiral in cost had “made the right call” in ordering it.

However, on Monday, the White House mentioned {that a} Navy admiral acted “within his authority and the law” when he ordered the second strike. Lawmakers have introduced congressional opinions of the U.S. army strikes towards vessels suspected of smuggling medicine.

The commander who was approved by Hegseth to order the second deadly strike, Navy Vice Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, is predicted to offer a categorised briefing Thursday to lawmakers overseeing the army.

Hegseth mentioned Tuesday that officers “have the back of our commanders who are making decisions in difficult situations.”

The actions described within the Post’s report may quantity to “war crimes,” some Democratic lawmakers and former army officers have alleged.

With reporting by the Associated Press.

This is a breaking information story…