Pete Hegseth

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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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In today's Back of the Brief, fresh off President Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the U.S.

Trump believes the strikes are necessary because they're preventing drugs from entering the U.S.

Drug policy experts say those numbers are overstated, given overall drug death stats in the U.S.