↑ Hegseth, Pete U.S. Strikes Islamic State Targets in Syria - American forces struck dozens of suspected ISIS sites, making good on President Trump’s vow to avenge two American soldiers and a civilian U.S. interpreter killed by the group last week.Trump Relies on Distortions to Support His Pressure Campaign on Venezuela - The president has a long record of making false or misleading statements. But the sheer density of them in his administration’s boat attacks and Venezuela pressure campaign is exceptional.Top Republican Examining Boat Strike ‘Satisfied’ With Military Mission - After viewing video of a follow-up strike, Republicans largely had confidence in the Pentagon’s legal rationale while Democrats questioned its legality.Senate Passes Defense Policy Bill, Clearing It for Trump - The legislation authorizes $900 billion for the Pentagon, provides a pay raise for troops, and has some measures to reassert congressional oversight.Alvin Holsey, Admiral Who Oversaw Boat Strikes Off Venezuela’s Coast, Retires - The admiral had abruptly announced that he would step down as the head of the U.S. Southern Command. His departure leaves several issues about the strikes unanswered.Democrats Say Hegseth Balked at Call for Full Video of Boat Strike - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefed congressional leaders on Tuesday about the monthslong military campaign targeting people suspected of being drug traffickers at sea.Inside the Pentagon’s Scramble to Deal With Boat Strike Survivors - Officials initially weighed sending survivors of U.S. attacks on boats suspected of drug smuggling to a notorious prison in El Salvador, to keep them away from American courts.Legal Groups Sue Justice Dept. for Secret Memo Justifying Boat Strikes - “The public deserves to know how the Trump administration has justified the outright murder of civilians as lawful,” the organizations said in their lawsuit.Defense Bill Demands Pentagon Show Congress Boat Strike Orders - In a sign of bipartisan frustration with the Defense Department, the final defense policy bill aims to compel the Pentagon to share execute orders and video documentation.Democrats Call for Releasing Video of Deadly Boat Strike in the Caribbean - Top Democratic lawmakers who have seen the footage said Sunday that making the video public would provide transparency around the strikes that killed two survivors on Sept. 2.