US House passes bill authorizing $900bn for military programs

In December 2025, the US military conducted a lethal strike on a vessel in the Caribbean, killing four individuals identified as "narco-terrorists." The Pentagon reported the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and traveling a known trafficking route. The strike, authorized by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, is the latest in a campaign by the Trump administration that has killed over 80 alleged drug smugglers. This incident occurs amid renewed scrutiny of the administration's policies following revelations about a previous strike in September where a boat was allegedly targeted twice. Investigations are underway by bipartisan congressional committees to determine if the strikes are compliant with the laws of armed conflict.

The Pentagon announced a lethal strike in the eastern Pacific, killing four men aboard a boat suspected of carrying illegal narcotics. The US Southern Command, under the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, conducted the strike, claiming the vessel was operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization and traveling a known drug-trafficking route. This is the latest in a series of such attacks, prompting questions about their legality and justification. Hegseth is facing scrutiny, including a Democratic lawmaker introducing articles of impeachment, following reports he ordered the military to "kill them all" in a previous strike where survivors were allegedly killed. Lawmakers are investigating the legal basis for these strikes, with differing opinions on the justification for lethal force against suspected drug smugglers.

In December 2025, The New York Times filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon in US District Court in Washington, DC, challenging new rules limiting media access. The lawsuit alleges that the rules, imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, violate the First Amendment and due process clauses of the US Constitution by granting him broad discretion to ban journalists based on coverage. The Times argues that the policy restricts reporters' ability to do their jobs and deprives the public of vital information about the military. Several news outlets, including The New York Times, have vacated Pentagon offices in response to the new rules, which have reshaped the Pentagon press corps. The Pentagon has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

House Democrats are calling for the resignation of a defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, following scrutiny over deadly boat strikes and an issue referred to as "Signalgate." The Democrats' ideological caucus believes Hegseth's actions are putting American lives at risk. The Pentagon announced that four men were killed in a recent boat strike in the Pacific. Separately, a federal vaccine advisory panel is expected to vote on whether to change the recommendation that all newborns be immunized against hepatitis B, following a delay and contentious meeting.

In the Eastern Pacific, a US military air strike on December 5, 2025, resulted in the deaths of four individuals aboard a suspected drug boat. The strike was ordered by US War Secretary Pete Hegseth. This incident is drawing scrutiny due to Hegseth's involvement in a previous attack where survivors were allegedly killed in a subsequent strike. The US military has confirmed the operation and the resulting casualties. The purpose of the strike was to interdict a vessel suspected of involvement in drug trafficking.

US lawmakers are investigating a September 2nd attack on a boat in the Caribbean, where 11 people died, amid allegations that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the killing of survivors. Admiral Frank Bradley denied issuing a "kill them all" order during a closed-door briefing with House and Senate committees. While some lawmakers defended the strikes as righteous, others expressed concern after viewing video of the incident. The attack, which killed two survivors of an initial airstrike, was part of a series targeting boats allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela. Although video of the initial strike was released, footage of the second strike remains unreleased, prompting calls from experts and others for its public release to determine the appropriateness of the military action.

A Pentagon inspector general report found that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated protocol by using the Signal messaging app to discuss sensitive military strikes on Yemen's Houthis. The report, provided to Congress on Tuesday, December 4, 2025, concluded that Hegseth used his personal phone for official communications, which is against Pentagon policy for classified information. While Hegseth claims the report is a "total exoneration," the findings are unclear, as he has the authority to declassify information. The investigation was launched after a journalist was accidentally added to a Signal chat group used by Hegseth, revealing the messages. Hegseth is also under investigation for allegedly ordering a second strike on a boat in the Caribbean, potentially killing survivors of an earlier strike.

A US Navy admiral, Frank Bradley, testified in closed-door hearings before the House of Representatives and Senate regarding a controversial double military strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on September 2nd. Lawmakers reviewed footage of the incident amid ongoing questions about the legality of using military force against suspected drug boats. The testimony centered around whether Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered to "kill them all," which Admiral Bradley denied. Lawmakers expressed mixed reactions, with some defending the strikes as professional and necessary, while others raised concerns about the use of force and called for further investigation and public release of the video. The hearings followed a separate US military strike in the eastern Pacific Ocean, reportedly directed by Hegseth, which resulted in four deaths.

The New York Times is suing the U.S. Department of Defense and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over press restrictions implemented during the Trump administration. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., alleges that the Pentagon's new policies infringe on journalists' First Amendment rights. These policies, introduced in October, require journalists to agree not to solicit unapproved information and limit their movement within the Pentagon. The New York Times argues that the restrictions are an attempt to control reporting the government dislikes and limit independent coverage of the Pentagon. The lawsuit seeks to protect journalists' ability to gather information and report beyond official pronouncements without fear of punishment.

A US Navy admiral will brief lawmakers on Thursday regarding a controversial US military strike on a boat in the Caribbean Sea in September. The strike, allegedly targeting drug smugglers, involved a second strike that killed any survivors. Bipartisan scrutiny has increased following reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for the attack. Lawmakers from both parties are raising concerns about the legality of the strikes and the overall strategy in the region, particularly regarding Venezuela. House and Senate armed services committees have opened investigations into the incident. The White House maintains the second strike was an act of self-defense within the laws of armed conflict.

In September 2025, the US military conducted two strikes on a boat in the Caribbean Sea as part of Operation Southern Spear, an anti-drug trafficking campaign. The first strike destroyed the vessel, killing nine, while a second strike killed the two survivors. The legality of the second strike, a "double tap," is under scrutiny, sparking controversy and investigations from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Discrepancies exist regarding who authorized the second strike, with reports suggesting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave the initial instruction and Admiral Frank Bradley ordered the strike. The Senate and House Armed Services Committees are conducting oversight to determine the facts surrounding the incident. The Trump administration faces political and legal challenges as a result.

The White House confirmed that a US Navy admiral ordered a second strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat on September 2nd, raising legal and ethical concerns. The "double tap" strike, which reportedly killed survivors from the initial blast, is under scrutiny from US lawmakers. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Admiral Frank Bradley acted legally and within his authority, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied giving an order to "kill everybody." Since September, over 80 people have died in similar US strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea, with limited evidence provided to support the claims of drug trafficking. The Trump administration defends the actions as self-defense against narco-terrorist groups, but lawmakers have vowed congressional reviews of the strikes.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated he did not see survivors before a second strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on September 2nd. The initial strike reportedly left two survivors, but a subsequent strike allegedly killed them, raising concerns about potential violations of laws governing armed conflict. Hegseth attributed the incident to the "fog of war," while the White House indicated Admiral Frank Bradley authorized the second strike. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern, and the Senate Armed Services Committee plans oversight. President Trump defended Bradley but distanced himself from the decision. The incident is part of a larger series of over 80 strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific since early September, which the Trump administration defends as necessary to combat drug trafficking.

In December 2025, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the continuation of military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea. Hegseth stated the US has "only just begun" targeting narcoboats and narcoterrorists. These actions have drawn accusations that the US military is breaking the law, though the specific laws were not mentioned in the article. The US government, under Hegseth's direction, intends to persist with these operations despite the controversy. The stated purpose of the strikes is to combat drug trafficking and terrorism in the region.

In September 2025, the US military conducted a double-tap strike on a boat in the Caribbean suspected of drug trafficking, killing nine people in the initial strike and two survivors in a subsequent strike authorized by Admiral Frank Bradley. The White House defended Bradley's actions, stating he acted within his authority. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has denied issuing a directive to "kill everybody" on the boat. Double-tap strikes, involving a second strike on the same target, have been used by the US in the past, including a 2025 air strike on the Ras Isa oil port in Yemen, with the stated objective of degrading the Houthis' economic power. The US military campaign in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific has killed over 80 people across 21 boats suspected of trafficking drugs.

In December 2025, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth authorized a military strike against a vessel suspected of drug trafficking. The incident is under scrutiny following reports that survivors of the initial attack were killed in a subsequent strike, also known as a "double-tap." Hegseth is now facing questions regarding the authorization of the operation and the decision to engage in a follow-up attack. The location of the incident was not specified in the report. The reason for the scrutiny is the ethical implications of targeting survivors of an initial military action.