US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday defended the ongoing series of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels, asserting that President Donald Trump has full authority to order military action to protect national security. His remarks came during a keynote address at the Reagan National Defense Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. The strikes, which have reportedly killed more than 80 people, have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers over questions of legality and compliance with international law. Some members of Congress have also sought clarity on whether US forces were directed to carry out a second strike in September despite Pentagon awareness of survivors from the first. Rejecting criticism, Hegseth compared the counter-narcotics campaign to the po

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