Hegseth cites ‘fog of war’ in defending follow-up strike on alleged drug boat

The Washington Post first reported that the US defence secretary had issued a verbal order for the second strike that killed survivors on the boat (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth cited the “fog of war” in defending a follow-up strike on an alleged drug-carrying boat in the Caribbean Sea in early September.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Mr Hegseth said he did not see there were survivors in the water when the second strike was ordered and launched, saying the vessel “exploded in fire, smoke, you can’t see anything… This is called the fog of war”.