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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Rhian Lubin,Ariana Baio and Rachel Dobkin

White House defends Hegseth’s ‘legal’ Venezuela drug boat strikes

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has defended the administration’s decision to order a second military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug-trafficking boat in September that reportedly killed survivors on board.

“The strike conducted on September 2 was conducted in self defense to protect Americans in vital United States interests,” Leavitt told the press Monday. “The strike was conducted in international waters and in accordance with the law of armed conflict.”

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