U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (Photo: U.S. Secretary of War)
Update: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has confirmed that Secretary Hegseth ordered a second strike.
Bipartisan lawmakers have said they support reviewing recent U.S. Military strikes on vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. The call for oversight follows reports that raised concerns on how a Sept. 2 mission was handled and authorized.
At the center of the scrutiny is an allegation that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for all crew members on a suspected drug boat to be killed during the Sept. 2 strike. The Washington Post first reported that two survivors were left in the water after the first strike and were later killed in a second strike allegedly ordered to comply with Hegseth’s directive.
Hegseth has rejected the reporting as “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory” and said the operations comply with U.S. and international law, with legal reviews at every level of the chain of command. The White House said Navy Adm. Frank Bradley, who oversaw the Sept. 2 mission, acted within his authority when he ordered an additional strike to ensure the vessel was destroyed.
Members of Congress have begun reviewing the allegations. Leadership of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees announced bipartisan investigations into U.S. Southern Command operations. Lawmakers from both parties said that if a second strike intentionally targeted individuals no longer able to fight, it would raise serious legal concerns. Some Republicans questioned the accuracy of the published reports, while others said the claims require a full review to determine whether laws were followed.
The Sept. 2 incident was the first in a series of more than 20 U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats since early September. More than 80 people have been killed in these operations. The administration says the boat strikes are part of an effort to disrupt narcotics trafficking networks, some of which it links to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. President Donald Trump credited the campaign with reducing the volume of drugs reaching the United States and has described both the vessels and Venezuela as a significant threat.
Members of Congress said they had not previously been informed of any directive to eliminate survivors during the Sept. 2 operation. Several lawmakers said that if the reports prove accurate, the conduct would violate the law of armed conflict. Others defend the U.S. maritime campaign and pointed out that the administration considers certain cartels terrorist organizations.
The rising scrutiny comes as the administration continues to weigh additional actions related to Venezuela, including disrupting the South American country’s airspace. Trump confirmed he recently spoke with Maduro but did not disclose the substance of their conversation. Meanwhile, Pentagon and White House officials continue to insist that the maritime operations comply with the law and are focused on protecting the United States from narcotics trafficking.
Congressional investigations are expected to review the chain of command behind the Sept. 2 operation, the approval process that guided it, and the policies governing the maritime campaign now underway.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
