US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that Iran has been harassing ships in the Strait of Hormuz “for too long” and warned that Tehran would face “overwhelming firepower” if it attacks commercial shipping, as Washington launched Operation Project Freedom to restore transit through the critical waterway.&nbsp;“Iran is the clear aggressor,” Hegseth said while addressing a press conference in the Pentagon briefing room along with Gen Dan Caine.The Pentagon chief added that Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz and that the US would not need to enter Iranian airspace or waters as part of the operation to open it.&nbsp;The US aims to protect shipping from Iranian aggression, said Hegseth adding that he expects other countries to step up and help the US open the strait.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>‘US is not looking for a fight, Project Freedom distinct from Epic Fury’</h2>&nbsp;Hegseth said the United States is “not looking for a fight” but Iran “cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway."He also clarified that “Project Freedom” is distinct from Operation Epic Fury launched on 28 February.“Project Freedom’s mission is to protect innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression,” Hegseth said, adding that it is “temporary in duration.”&nbsp;The Pentagon chief said Iran has acted aggressively towards “innocent countries” whose ships are trying to pass through the strait of Hormuz.He further said that the US has established a “dome” across the strait as a “gift to the rest of the world”. The blockade remains “iron-clad” and in force, he says.Six ships tried to break through the blockade from Iranian ports but were stopped by US forces, Hegseth added.&nbsp;He said the US blockade on Iranian ports remains fully in effect, with CENTCOM and partner nations in active communication with hundreds of ships, shipping companies, and insurers. “Hundreds more ships are lining up to transit the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.&nbsp;<h2>‘Iran weaponising global supply chain, trying to hold global economy hostage’</h2>&nbsp;Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine said Iran has repeatedly threatened and attacked commercial shipping over the last seven weeks in order to damage the economy.&nbsp;“Iran is weaponising the global supply chain and attempting to hold the entire global economy hostage,” he added.&nbsp;“There are 22,500 mariners on 1,550 commercial vessels trapped in the Gulf who are unable to transit,” Caine said, adding that the US helicopters successfully defended Iranian missile, drones and small boat attacks on US forces in the strait on Monday.

Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said the US is not looking for a fight, but Iran cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway. He added that Iran has acted aggressively towards countries whose ships are trying to pass through Hormuz.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that Iran has been harassing ships in the Strait of Hormuz “for too long” and warned that Tehran would face “overwhelming firepower” if it attacks commercial shipping, as Washington launched Operation Project Freedom to restore transit through the critical waterway. “Iran is the clear aggressor,” Hegseth said while addressing a press conference in the Pentagon briefing room along with Gen Dan Caine. The Pentagon chief added that Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz and that the US would not need to enter Iranian airspace or waters as part of the operation to open it. The US aims to protect shipping from Iranian aggression, said Hegseth adding that he expects other countries to step up and help the US open the strait. ‘US is not looking for a fight, Project Freedom distinct from Epic Fury’ Hegseth said the United States is “not looking for a fight” but Iran “cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway." He also clarified that “Project Freedom” is distinct from Operation Epic Fury launched on 28 February. “Project Freedom’s mission is to protect innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression,” Hegseth said, adding that it is “temporary in duration.” The Pentagon chief said Iran has acted aggressively towards “innocent countries” whose ships are trying to pass through the strait of Hormuz. He further said that the US has established a “dome” across the strait as a “gift to the rest of the world”. The blockade remains “iron-clad” and in force, he says. Six ships tried to break through the blockade from Iranian ports but were stopped by US forces, Hegseth added. He said the US blockade on Iranian ports remains fully in effect, with CENTCOM and partner nations in active communication with hundreds of ships, shipping companies, and insurers. “Hundreds more ships are lining up to transit the Strait of Hormuz,” he added. ‘Iran weaponising global supply chain, trying to hold global economy hostage’ Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine said Iran has repeatedly threatened and attacked commercial shipping over the last seven weeks in order to damage the economy. “Iran is weaponising the global supply chain and attempting to hold the entire global economy hostage,” he added. “There are 22,500 mariners on 1,550 commercial vessels trapped in the Gulf who are unable to transit,” Caine said, adding that the US helicopters successfully defended Iranian missile, drones and small boat attacks on US forces in the strait on Monday.

Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said the US is not looking for a fight, but Iran cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway. He added that Iran has acted aggressively towards countries whose ships are trying to pass through Hormuz.

‘Iran cannot be allowed to block Hormuz,’ says Pete Hegseth, warns Tehran would face ‘overwhelming firepower’

A day after the US and Iran negotiated the 14-day ceasefire Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the president noted it to be a “big day for world peace”. Hegseth declares Operation Epic Fury “a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield”. These comments come days after he posted “back to Stone Age”. After announcing the ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, he now added, "Iran begged for this ceasefire”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hegseth-caine-declare-iran-ceasefire-after-overwhelming-victory-1775655901283/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/hegseth-caine-declare-iran-ceasefire-after-overwhelming-victory-1775655901283/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Not too long ago, Pete Hegseth had tweeted, “back to the Stone Age”. The comments come amid escalating West Asia war, and days before Donald Trump’s pause and ultimatum for Iran ends. To which Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aerospace commander Brigadier General Seyed Majid Moosavi responded with, “It is you who are taking your soldiers to their graves, not Iran, whom you seek to drag back to the Stone Age.” He added, “Hollywood delusions have so poisoned your minds that, with your paltry 250-year history, you threaten a civilization over 6,000 years old.”&nbsp;Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-neither-elegant-nor-appropriate-macron-s-classy-response-to-trump-s-unwarranted-personal-attack-1775141015495"> 'Neither elegant nor appropriate': Macron's classy response to Trump's unwarranted personal attack</a>&nbsp;Even the Iranian embassy in India responded, “We will not be driven back to the Stone Age by your bombings. We are a nation with 7,000 years of civilization. History knows us well. What is clear is this: it is YOU who have carried the killing of children and crimes against humanity from the Stone Age into the modern world.”&nbsp;<h2>The pause…</h2>Amid the ongoing war, which has created a global energy crisis, Trump had announced a pause for 5 days on March 23 and then extended it for 10 days on March 27. According to this timeline, the 10th day would be April 6, but on Monday (Mar 30), the US president threatened Iran even before the ultimatum could end. As the US and Israel's joint military operation in Iran was paused as per Donald Trump's claims. In a social media post he wrote, “I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.”&nbsp; &nbsp;

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declares Operation Epic Fury a "historic victory," claiming Iran "begged for a ceasefire" after U.S. strikes crippled Tehran.

A day after the US and Iran negotiated the 14-day ceasefire Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the president noted it to be a “big day for world peace”. Hegseth declares Operation Epic Fury “a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield”. These comments come days after he posted “back to Stone Age”. After announcing the ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, he now added, "Iran begged for this ceasefire” https://www.wionews.com/videos/hegseth-caine-declare-iran-ceasefire-after-overwhelming-victory-1775655901283/embed Not too long ago, Pete Hegseth had tweeted, “back to the Stone Age”. The comments come amid escalating West Asia war, and days before Donald Trump’s pause and ultimatum for Iran ends. To which Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aerospace commander Brigadier General Seyed Majid Moosavi responded with, “It is you who are taking your soldiers to their graves, not Iran, whom you seek to drag back to the Stone Age.” He added, “Hollywood delusions have so poisoned your minds that, with your paltry 250-year history, you threaten a civilization over 6,000 years old.” Also read: 'Neither elegant nor appropriate': Macron's classy response to Trump's unwarranted personal attack Even the Iranian embassy in India responded, “We will not be driven back to the Stone Age by your bombings. We are a nation with 7,000 years of civilization. History knows us well. What is clear is this: it is YOU who have carried the killing of children and crimes against humanity from the Stone Age into the modern world.” The pause… Amid the ongoing war, which has created a global energy crisis, Trump had announced a pause for 5 days on March 23 and then extended it for 10 days on March 27. According to this timeline, the 10th day would be April 6, but on Monday (Mar 30), the US president threatened Iran even before the ultimatum could end. As the US and Israel's joint military operation in Iran was paused as per Donald Trump's claims. In a social media post he wrote, “I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declares Operation Epic Fury a "historic victory," claiming Iran "begged for a ceasefire" after U.S. strikes crippled Tehran.

'Iran begged for a ceasefire,' says Pete Hegseth as he declares Operation Epic Fury 'a historic and overwhelming victory'

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Tuesday (March 31) said "the last job anyone wants right now is leadership of the IRGC and a top position in the Iranian regime," as the US military killed several senior leaders in Tehran in decapitation strikes as the war in West Asia enters its second month.&nbsp;He referred to the Iranian regime as the "new regime" and said change has occurred in Tehran, while suggesting that "if Iran is wise, they'll cut a deal." The Defence Secretary reiterated his warning, saying, "If Tehran doesn't make a deal, the war will continue with more intensity."&nbsp;Hegseth also said he made an unannounced trip to West Asia over the weekend and visited troops that are part of the military operations. However, he refrained from disclosing his place of visit for security reasons.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-is-a-reliable-trustworthy-partner-senior-eu-lawmaker-angelika-niebler-1774955853921">India is a reliable, trustworthy partner: Senior EU Lawmaker Angelika Niebler</a>&nbsp;"The trip was an honour," and "witnessed the best of America," Pete Hegseth said, as he, along with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, held a briefing on Iran after 12 days.&nbsp;Hegseth claimed that the "past 24 hours saw the lowest number of enemy missiles fired by Iran," as the US has decimated its supporting infrastructure and missile and drone facilities, resulting in weakening Tehran's capacity to launch these weapons. "The upcoming days will be decisive. Iran knows that, and there's almost nothing they can militarily do about it," he added.&nbsp;On the issue of negotiations with Iran, the Pentagon chief talks about ending the Iran war, and making progress even as the more than month-long US-Israeli military campaign against the Islamic Republic continued.&nbsp;&nbsp;"They are very real. They are ongoing, they are active, and I think, gaining strength," Hegseth said.&nbsp;&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Hegseth also said he made an unannounced trip to West Asia over the weekend and visited troops that are part of the military operations. However, he refrained from disclosing his place of visit for security reasons.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Tuesday (March 31) said "the last job anyone wants right now is leadership of the IRGC and a top position in the Iranian regime," as the US military killed several senior leaders in Tehran in decapitation strikes as the war in West Asia enters its second month. He referred to the Iranian regime as the "new regime" and said change has occurred in Tehran, while suggesting that "if Iran is wise, they'll cut a deal." The Defence Secretary reiterated his warning, saying, "If Tehran doesn't make a deal, the war will continue with more intensity." Hegseth also said he made an unannounced trip to West Asia over the weekend and visited troops that are part of the military operations. However, he refrained from disclosing his place of visit for security reasons. Also Read: India is a reliable, trustworthy partner: Senior EU Lawmaker Angelika Niebler "The trip was an honour," and "witnessed the best of America," Pete Hegseth said, as he, along with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, held a briefing on Iran after 12 days. Hegseth claimed that the "past 24 hours saw the lowest number of enemy missiles fired by Iran," as the US has decimated its supporting infrastructure and missile and drone facilities, resulting in weakening Tehran's capacity to launch these weapons. "The upcoming days will be decisive. Iran knows that, and there's almost nothing they can militarily do about it," he added. On the issue of negotiations with Iran, the Pentagon chief talks about ending the Iran war, and making progress even as the more than month-long US-Israeli military campaign against the Islamic Republic continued. "They are very real. They are ongoing, they are active, and I think, gaining strength," Hegseth said. (Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Hegseth also said he made an unannounced trip to West Asia over the weekend and visited troops that are part of the military operations. However, he refrained from disclosing his place of visit for security reasons.

'If Iran is wise, they'll cut a deal': Hegseth claims regime change has occurred in Tehran

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Thursday (Mar 19) said that families of service members killed in Iran told him to “finish the job”. Addressing a press conference a day after meeting the families of six US troops, Hegseth vowed to “honour their sacrifice”. However, the father of one of the slain soldiers has denied speaking to the Pentagon chief regarding the matter.“I can’t speak for the other families. When he spoke to me, that was not something we talked about,” Charles Simmons, father of Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons told NBC News in an interview on Thursday. His 28-year-old son was among the six crew members who lost their lives when their refuelling plane crashed in Iraq last week.<h2>What did Hegseth claim?</h2>Speaking in a morning press briefing after meeting the families at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Hegseth said, “What I heard through tears, through hugs, through strength and through unbreakable resolve was the same from family after family. They said, ‘Finish this. Honour their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done.’”<h2>What did Simmons say?</h2>Simmons, a 60-year-old music teacher in Columbus, Ohio, recalled his interaction with Hegseth and US President Donald Trump, saying that he was grateful for the warmth that both men showed him. He added that he mostly spoke about his son, Tyler, his impressive service record and how he had advanced in the military with Hegseth.“I understand there’s a lot of peril that goes into making decisions like this, and I just certainly hope the decisions being made are necessary,” he had told Hegseth.When asked whether he said anything to Hegseth or Trump about the need to keep fighting the war, Simmons denied. “No, I didn’t say anything along those lines,” he said. He added that he had “questions” about the war and isn’t able to draw “definitive conclusions when I don’t have all the data.”“Who wants war?” he said. “Sometimes it’s a necessity, and I just don’t know what’s going on.”Speaking about when he met Trump and Hegseth, Simmons said, “I was pleasantly surprised because the perception is they [Trump and Hegseth] don’t care, they’re going to do what they want to do,” he said. “I got to see a different side of them up close and personal.”Recalling what his son had told him before volunteering for the operation in Iran, Simmons said, “He said, ‘Dad, I can’t give you any details, but if civilians knew what we knew, a lot of the criticism [of the war] would cease.” Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said families urged to “finish the job” in Iran, but the father of a slain soldier disputed the claim, saying war continuation was never discussed.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Thursday (Mar 19) said that families of service members killed in Iran told him to “finish the job”. Addressing a press conference a day after meeting the families of six US troops, Hegseth vowed to “honour their sacrifice”. However, the father of one of the slain soldiers has denied speaking to the Pentagon chief regarding the matter. “I can’t speak for the other families. When he spoke to me, that was not something we talked about,” Charles Simmons, father of Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons told NBC News in an interview on Thursday. His 28-year-old son was among the six crew members who lost their lives when their refuelling plane crashed in Iraq last week. What did Hegseth claim? Speaking in a morning press briefing after meeting the families at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Hegseth said, “What I heard through tears, through hugs, through strength and through unbreakable resolve was the same from family after family. They said, ‘Finish this. Honour their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done.’” What did Simmons say? Simmons, a 60-year-old music teacher in Columbus, Ohio, recalled his interaction with Hegseth and US President Donald Trump, saying that he was grateful for the warmth that both men showed him. He added that he mostly spoke about his son, Tyler, his impressive service record and how he had advanced in the military with Hegseth. “I understand there’s a lot of peril that goes into making decisions like this, and I just certainly hope the decisions being made are necessary,” he had told Hegseth. When asked whether he said anything to Hegseth or Trump about the need to keep fighting the war, Simmons denied. “No, I didn’t say anything along those lines,” he said. He added that he had “questions” about the war and isn’t able to draw “definitive conclusions when I don’t have all the data.” “Who wants war?” he said. “Sometimes it’s a necessity, and I just don’t know what’s going on.” Speaking about when he met Trump and Hegseth, Simmons said, “I was pleasantly surprised because the perception is they [Trump and Hegseth] don’t care, they’re going to do what they want to do,” he said. “I got to see a different side of them up close and personal.” Recalling what his son had told him before volunteering for the operation in Iran, Simmons said, “He said, ‘Dad, I can’t give you any details, but if civilians knew what we knew, a lot of the criticism [of the war] would cease.” Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said families urged to “finish the job” in Iran, but the father of a slain soldier disputed the claim, saying war continuation was never discussed.

Fact Check: Did families of killed US soldiers tell Hegseth to ‘finish the job’?

The White House on Monday (Dec 1) confirmed that a US admiral under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered a “double-tap” military operation striking survivors of an initial attack on an alleged drug boat. The White House said that Admiral Frank Bradley, who leads the US Special Operations Command, was acting legally and properly in ordering the second strike on survivors. This comes following reports suggesting American troops killed survivors of one such missile strike, a claim Hegseth earlier called “fake news”. A day earlier, US President Donald Trump also backed Hegseth’s remarks, saying that he would not have wanted that.&nbsp;Bradley “worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. She added that Hegseth “authorised Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes.”&nbsp;The White House statement comes in contradiction to that of Hegseth’s, in which he denied that reports, calling them “fake news” intended to “discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.” Defending the recent operations of the US military against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean, Hegseth said on Friday (Nov 28) that the intent of the strikes was to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco boats, and kill the narco terrorists “who are poisoning the American people.”&nbsp;Days earlier, the Washington Post reported that on September 2, the US military conducted a follow-up strike after seeing two survivors of an initial attack. The report added that following the operation, protocols were changed to rescue any survivors.&nbsp;&nbsp;Slamming the reports, Hegseth said, “As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.” He further added, “Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both US 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.”

This comes following reports suggesting American troops killed survivors of one such missile strike, a claim Hegseth earlier called “fake news”.

The White House on Monday (Dec 1) confirmed that a US admiral under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered a “double-tap” military operation striking survivors of an initial attack on an alleged drug boat. The White House said that Admiral Frank Bradley, who leads the US Special Operations Command, was acting legally and properly in ordering the second strike on survivors. This comes following reports suggesting American troops killed survivors of one such missile strike, a claim Hegseth earlier called “fake news”. A day earlier, US President Donald Trump also backed Hegseth’s remarks, saying that he would not have wanted that. Bradley “worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. She added that Hegseth “authorised Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes.” The White House statement comes in contradiction to that of Hegseth’s, in which he denied that reports, calling them “fake news” intended to “discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.” Defending the recent operations of the US military against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean, Hegseth said on Friday (Nov 28) that the intent of the strikes was to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco boats, and kill the narco terrorists “who are poisoning the American people.” Days earlier, the Washington Post reported that on September 2, the US military conducted a follow-up strike after seeing two survivors of an initial attack. The report added that following the operation, protocols were changed to rescue any survivors. Slamming the reports, Hegseth said, “As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.” He further added, “Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both US 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.”

This comes following reports suggesting American troops killed survivors of one such missile strike, a claim Hegseth earlier called “fake news”.

US admiral ordered second strike on drug boat survivors? White House confirms what Hegseth called ‘fake news’

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Friday (Nov 28) defended recent operations of the US military against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean following media reports claiming American troops killed survivors of one such missile strike. This comes amid rising concerns over US military actions in the region and a potential land campaign in Venezuela against drug cartels. A day earlier, US President Donald Trump said that the US would “very soon” step up its efforts to stop the flow of Venezuelan drug trafficking “by land.”The Washington Post and CNN reported that the US troops were given a directive from Hegseth to kill everyon on board the alleged drug vessels. The Post reported that on September 2, the US military conducted a follow-up strike after seeing two survivors of an initial attack. The report added that following the operation, protocols were changed to rescue any survivors. While CNN reported that it was not clear whether Hegseth was aware of the survivors before the second strike was carried out.Defending the US strikes, Hegseth called the reports “fake news”. He added that the intent of the strikes was to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco boats, and kill the narco terrorists “who are poisoning the American people.”“As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland,” he said. “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.”The secretary of war said that the US operations in the Caribbean are lawful as per both US and international laws.“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,” he said. “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.”<h2>Hegseth accuses Biden of ‘coddling terrorists’</h2>He also slammed former president Joe Biden, saying that his administration allowed dangerous cartels and unvetted Afghans to flood into their communities with drugs and violence.“The Biden administration preferred the kid gloves approach, allowing millions of people — including dangerous cartels and unvetted Afghans — to flood our communities with drugs and violence. The Trump administration has sealed the border and gone on offense against narco-terrorists. Biden coddled terrorists, we kill them,” Hegseth said.

Defending the US strikes, Hegseth called the reports “fake news”. He added that the intent of the strikes was to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco boats, and kill the narco terrorists “who are poisoning the American people.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Friday (Nov 28) defended recent operations of the US military against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean following media reports claiming American troops killed survivors of one such missile strike. This comes amid rising concerns over US military actions in the region and a potential land campaign in Venezuela against drug cartels. A day earlier, US President Donald Trump said that the US would “very soon” step up its efforts to stop the flow of Venezuelan drug trafficking “by land.” The Washington Post and CNN reported that the US troops were given a directive from Hegseth to kill everyon on board the alleged drug vessels. The Post reported that on September 2, the US military conducted a follow-up strike after seeing two survivors of an initial attack. The report added that following the operation, protocols were changed to rescue any survivors. While CNN reported that it was not clear whether Hegseth was aware of the survivors before the second strike was carried out. Defending the US strikes, Hegseth called the reports “fake news”. He added that the intent of the strikes was to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco boats, and kill the narco terrorists “who are poisoning the American people.” “As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland,” he said. “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.” The secretary of war said that the US operations in the Caribbean are lawful as per both US and international laws. “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,” he said. “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.” Hegseth accuses Biden of ‘coddling terrorists’ He also slammed former president Joe Biden, saying that his administration allowed dangerous cartels and unvetted Afghans to flood into their communities with drugs and violence. “The Biden administration preferred the kid gloves approach, allowing millions of people — including dangerous cartels and unvetted Afghans — to flood our communities with drugs and violence. The Trump administration has sealed the border and gone on offense against narco-terrorists. Biden coddled terrorists, we kill them,” Hegseth said.

Defending the US strikes, Hegseth called the reports “fake news”. He added that the intent of the strikes was to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco boats, and kill the narco terrorists “who are poisoning the American people.”

‘Fake news’: Hegseth slams media reports claiming US killed ‘drug boat’ survivors

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‘Iran cannot be allowed to block Hormuz,’ says Pete Hegseth, warns Tehran would face ‘overwhelming firepower’

'Iran begged for ceasefire' says Pete Hegseth

'If Iran is wise, it will cut a deal': Hegseth claims regime change in Tehran

Fact Check: Did families of killed US soldiers tell Hegseth to ‘finish the job’?

US ordered second strike on drug boat survivors? White House says...

Hegseth slams media reports claiming US killed ‘drug boat’ survivors