U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged he was not present for a controversial second missile strike on a boat off the coast of Venezuela on September 2, a mission that reportedly killed two survivors clinging to the wreckage. His admission during a televised cabinet meeting adds a new layer to a crisis that has triggered bipartisan alarm in Washington over potential breaches of military law.

The incident raises urgent questions about the chain of command and the legality of an expanding American campaign against alleged "narco-terrorists." The core of the controversy is whether the U.S. military executed defenseless individuals, a potential war crime, and who bears ultimate responsibility.

Hegseth told reporters he watched the first strike "live" but left for another meeting before a second missile was fired. "A couple of hours later, I learned that that commander had made the [decision], which he had the complete authority to do," Hegseth stated, defending decorated Navy Admiral Frank Bradley as having made the "right call."

This account appears to shift responsibility to Adm. Bradley, who was promoted to head the U.S. Special Operations Command a month after the incident. It also contrasts with Hegseth's earlier boast that he "watched it live," which critics now point to as evidence of a changing narrative.

Trump Signals Wider War on Traffickers

The controversy did not deter President Donald Trump, who used the cabinet meeting to announce a significant escalation. He warned that any country believed to be producing or trafficking drugs to the U.S. is "subject to attack" and that strikes would soon expand to land targets. "We're going to start doing those strikes on land, too," Trump declared. "We know where they live... and we're going to start that very soon."

This new doctrine signals a potentially dramatic expansion of U.S. military operations in Latin America, moving beyond maritime interdictions to attacks within sovereign nations. Since September, at least 21 strikes have killed more than 80 people.

Democrats Demand Accountability

The response from opposition Democrats has been furious. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer labeled Hegseth a "spineless" and "national embarrassment," demanding the public release of unedited tapes of the September 2 strikes. "If Secretary Hegseth has nothing to hide, he should not fear being truthful," Schumer noted in a floor speech.

Key developments in the situation include:

• Shifting Responsibility: The White House and Pentagon are now explicitly naming Admiral Frank Bradley as the officer who ordered the second strike, a move some officials fear is making him a scapegoat.
• Calls for Investigation: The powerful Senate Armed Services Committee has pledged to conduct "vigorous oversight" into the incident.
• International Precedent: The policy of extrajudicial strikes raises profound questions for nations like Kenya, highlighting the risks when global powers adopt aggressive, unilateral military actions that could destabilize international law and order.

The demand for the unedited recordings will likely intensify as lawmakers seek to determine whether Hegseth's new account is a clarification or a cover-up. The coming days will prove critical in determining whether this incident remains a political firestorm or escalates into a full-blown legal and diplomatic crisis.