Pete Hegseth

And I think it's worth pointing out as well, critics of the deployments, as well as the courts, have been asking all along, why are soldiers patrolling American streets at all when there are no riots or waves of violence?

A federal judge has ruled the deployment to D.C.

of National Guard members unlawful, but did give the administration some more time to appeal.

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Support for NPR comes from... I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

Defense Secretary Hegseth says the latest attack struck two boats suspected of smuggling drugs.

This is the 19th by the U.S.

since the military campaign began early September.

Hegseth posted two short videos showing two separate boats bombed while traveling along

What the defense secretary said is a no-narco-trafficking transit route.

Hegseth said those killed were all male narco-terrorists.

He cited intelligence that the two boats were transporting drugs but did not provide evidence.

Multiple experts say the strikes are illegal even if the suspects are criminals.

Trump says the lethal strikes are justified as he has declared the U.S.

in an armed conflict with drug cartels.

Carrie Khan, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.

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