Pentagon Says 80+ ‘Narcoterrorists’ Killed as US Expands Caribbean Strikes

The Pentagon says more than 80 alleged “narcoterrorists” have been killed during 21 U.S. strikes in the Caribbean as part of Operation Southern Spear. Spokesperson Kingsley Wilson claimed each strike prevents narcotics from reaching the U.S., arguing the missions protect American lives. The Pentagon rejected reports of improper targeting and said the operation against drug-trafficking networks will continue.

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Transcript

00:00I want to provide an update on the department's operations against narco-terrorists in the

00:04Western Hemisphere. To date, there have been a total of 21 kinetic strikes on drug boats in

00:09our hemisphere, with 82 narco-terrorists killed. Each strike conducted against these designated

00:15terrorist organizations is taken in defense of vital U.S. national interests and to protect

00:21the homeland. Our operations in the Southcom region are lawful under both U.S. and international

00:28law with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict. These actions have also been

00:34approved by the best military and civilian lawyers up and down the chain of command. A completely fake

00:40story in the Washington Post, now discredited by the New York Times, tried to mischaracterize these

00:46successful strikes in bad faith. It was an attempt to damage the secretary and the president, and the

00:52people saw through it. The phony Washington Post story even attributed statements to the secretary

00:58that were totally fabricated. He never said them. That is the epitome of fake news. As the White

01:05House confirmed yesterday, the decision to re-strike the narco-terrorist vessel was made by Admiral

01:10Bradley, operating under clear and long-standing authorities to ensure the boat was destroyed

01:16and the threat to the United States was eliminated. Secretary Hegseth stands behind Admiral Bradley 100%.

01:22Admiral Bradley made the right call, and unlike the previous administration, we have our warfighters back

01:29at this department. This department will defend our homeland. This is not a catchphrase. It is a

01:35commitment, and as the secretary said, when it comes to killing narco-terrorists, we have only just begun.

01:41Lastly, I would like to announce that the War Department has created a new division for strategic marketing

01:46that will be led by Abby Lower, who will hold the title of deputy assistant to the Secretary of War

01:52for strategic marketing. The division will be a new core function within public affairs and will

01:58complement our media and strategic engagement teams. The purpose of this new division is to create

02:03marketing campaigns that support the War Department's military recruitment efforts, providing a halo effect

02:09to the great work the military services are already doing to recruit our nation's warfighters.

02:14And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions.

02:19Yes, Caitlin.

02:21Thanks, Kingsley. Can you talk about the autonomy that's given to the commanders who are carrying

02:27out these operations, like Admiral Bradley, to make decisions? Like in this case, I'm assuming

02:33the first strike took out the boat and any actions that followed. Can you talk about the autonomy they're given?

02:39Absolutely. So the Secretary has been very clear in every statement that we've released about these

02:44strikes that they are presidentially directed. And the chain of command functions as it should. And

02:49we make sure that commanders on the ground are taken, their positions are taken into account and

02:53they are able to tell us and make decisions if they see things that need to be flagged. But at the end

02:59of the day, the Secretary and the President are the ones directing these strikes. And any follow-on strikes,

03:06like those which were directed by Admiral Bradley, the Secretary 100 percent agrees with.

03:11Yes, Matt.

03:12Kingsley, if Nicolas Maduro leaves Venezuela today, what role will the Department of War have in a

03:19post-Maduro Venezuela? And describe the process the administration will use to determine whether or

03:26not current members of the Venezuelan military or Venezuelan government have a role in a post-Maduro

03:31Venezuela. Thanks for the question. So the department has a contingency plan for everything.

03:36We are a planning organization. If anything were to happen around the world, we have a response

03:41planned and ready. So we stand at the president's beck and call, our commander-in-chief, to do what

03:47is needed if called upon. And that will be what this department continues to focus on and continues

03:52to prepare for in regards to our ongoing operations in the Southcom region. Again, our focus is taking

03:58out narco-terrorists and rooting out that threat that is poisoning the American people. Every single

04:04boat that we strike saves 25,000 American lives. That is a crucial mission to protecting the homeland,

04:11and we're proud to be a part of it.

04:12Just as a follow-up, quickly. So, you know, following the departure of Saddam Hussein, there

04:17was this desire to name every Baathist a terrorist. Does the administration take the view that any

04:24person who served in the Venezuelan military or Venezuelan government is definitionally a

04:29narco-terrorist? That would be a determination for the president to make, but I can tell you that

04:32every single person who we have hit thus far who is in a drug boat carrying narcotics to the United

04:38States is a narco-terrorist. Our intelligence has confirmed that, and we stand by it.

Pentagon Says 80+ ‘Narcoterrorists’ Killed as US Expands Caribbean Strikes | APT

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