Hegseth defends strikes after WaPo ‘kill everybody’ story: ‘Fake news’

 https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5626054-defense-secretary-defends-drug-strikes

The Post cited sources who said Hegseth had ordered “to kill everybody” on an alleged drug boat in an early September attack, which reportedly required two strikes after an initial one failed to kill all on board.

The U.S. military has carried out over 20 strikes targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats, killing more than 80 people that the administration has said were “narco-terrorists.”

The strikes have resulted in backlash from both sides of the aisle, with some raising questions about the legal grounding of the attacks. 

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said in a Friday post on X sharing the Post’s report that “if you want to know why Hegseth is panicking about reminders that there is accountably for giving or carrying out illegal orders, it’s likely because he knows he has given illegal orders to murder people.”