Pentagon Official Reportedly Says Attack Against Venezuelan Vessel Targeted Civilians: 'May Be Criminals, But They Aren't Combatants'

A Pentagon official reportedly said the U.S. attack against a Venezuelan vessel on Tuesday "directly targeted civilians" because even if they were transporting drugs, they would be considered "criminals," not "combatants."

"When Trump fired the military's top lawyers the rest saw the writing on the wall, and instead of being a critical firebreak they are now a rubber stamp complicit in this crime," The Intercept reported, quoting the official.

Other officials told the outlet that the legal justification for the attack was crafted after it took place. On Thursday, the White House issued a statement claiming the attack was lawful, with deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said it was "taken in defense of vital U.S. national interests and in the collective self-defense of other nations who have long suffered due to the narcotics trafficking and violent cartel activities of such organizations."

Hegseth gave a justification of his own, saying that "every boatload of any form of drug that poisons the American people is an imminent threat, and at the DoD our job is to defeat imminent threats." Speaking to the outlet, two officials called the explanation "completely unserious" and noted that it was crafted after the attack.

Such operations, however, are expected not only to continue, but to increase, as the Trump administration is set to prioritize homeland security and operations in the Western Hemisphere over deterring China, according to a new report.

Politico detailed on Friday in a newsletter that the new strategy, a version of which made it to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's desk last week, also prioritizes the operations above countering Moscow.

"This is going to be a major shift for the U.S. and its allies on multiple continents," one of the people briefed on the document told the outlet. "The old, trusted U.S. promises are being questioned."