White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt confirmed that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in September approved a second strike on a ship that was allegedly “carrying drugs” and was located off the coast of Venezuela.
Speaking at a briefing, Levitt commented on pressing issues related to increased pressure by the United States on Venezuela.
According to the press secretary, in September Hegseth ordered the strike a second strike on a ship that was allegedly transporting drugs, thereby confirming reports that after the first attack, two people who survived and held on to the ship engulfed in fire were killed as a result of the second strike.
Commenting on the publication of the Washington Post, the White House press secretary noted that Hegseth conveyed the corresponding order to Admiral Frank Bradley, who was in charge of the operation in the region.
“President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has made it clear that terrorist groups identified by the President and involved in drug trafficking may, in accordance with the laws of war, be subject to lethal attacks. In the context of the events of September 2, Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to carry out these strikes,” Levitt said.
The Washington Post previously reported that on September 2, US Navy forces struck a ship allegedly transporting drugs off the coast of Venezuela. According to the newspaper, two people who were injured and survived the first attack were attached to the damaged ship, but died as a result of a second strike.
Trump will discuss the situation around Venezuela with the national security team
According to Levitt, US President Donald Trump will hold a meeting with members of his national security team at the White House on Tuesday around 17.00 local time, which will review the current developments around Venezuela.
She stressed that the head of state is closely monitoring the situation in this country and that “problematic issues” related to Venezuela will be one of the key items on the agenda of the upcoming meeting.