Pete Hegseth

Nine people were killed initially, but two people survived.

A second U.S.

strike killed them, but Hegseth said he only learned hours later that this follow-up strike took place.

He said the commander of the operation made the correct decision to, quote, sink the boat and eliminate the threat.

But critics have raised the possibility the attack could be a violation of U.S.

law or the laws of war.

Greg Myhre, NPR News, Washington.

Pete Hankseth put the blame for the second strike squarely on his commander, Admiral Mitch Bradley, saying on X, I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made on the September 2nd mission and all others since.

President Trump convened a cabinet meeting and Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth spoke about that operation on September 2nd.

That's when the U.S.

military hit a suspected drug boat.

Nine people were killed and the boat was set aflame initially.

Here's what Hegseth said.

I watched that first strike live.

So he was fully engaged when the initial attack took place and didn't remain around for what followed.

I watched that first strike line.

As you can imagine, at the Department of War, we've got a lot of things to do.

So I didn't stick around, so I moved on to my next meeting.

I watched that first strike live.

As you can imagine, at the Department of War, we've got a lot of things to do.