WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday cited the "fog of war" in defending a follow-up strike on what was believed to be a drug-carrying boat in the Caribbean Sea in early September.

During a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Hegseth said he did not see any survivors in the water, saying the vessel "exploded in fire, smoke, you can't see anything. ... This is called the fog of war."

Hegseth also said he "didn't stick around" for the remainder of the Sept. 2 mission after the initial strike and the admiral in charge "made the right call" in ordering the second hit, which he "had complete authority to do."

Lawmakers have opened investigations after a Washington Post report that Hegseth issued a verbal order to "kill everybody" on the boat, the first vessel hit in the Tr

See Full Page