The attack under scrutiny took place in early September in the Caribbean Sea. Sources who spoke to the Washington Post claim that Hegseth ordered everyone on board to be killed before the attack and that a second shelling of the boat was therefore carried out when it was determined that two people had survived the first.
The attack was the first in a long series this fall, which has so far killed over 80 people in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific.
The operations are facing harsh criticism, both from lawyers and former military personnel, who believe that the attacks violate international law and may even constitute war crimes.
However, no stop to the attacks is expected, Pete Hegseth announced at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening Swedish time.
"We have only just begun our crackdown on drug boats and drug terrorists, who should be sunk to the bottom of the ocean because they are poisoning the American people," he said.
Hegseth also stressed that the government stands behind the commanders behind the decisions to attack the boats. The support from the minister comes after an admiral was singled out for having had operational responsibility for the double attack in September.
The White House press secretary defended the admiral in question on Monday, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt claiming that he "acted within the scope of his authority."
