Bipartisan Concern Over Military Operations
Lawmakers from both major political parties expressed serious concerns Sunday about United States military operations targeting vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. The bipartisan call for congressional review follows a Washington Post report alleging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for all crew members to be killed during a September 2nd attack.
While legislators acknowledged they couldn't verify the accuracy of the Post's reporting, multiple representatives emphasized that attacking survivors of an initial missile strike raises significant legal questions under international law.
War Crime Allegations and Investigations
Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, stated unequivocally that "This rises to the level of a war crime if it's true." His comments reflect the gravity of the allegations that have prompted immediate congressional response.
Republican Representative Mike Turner of Ohio noted that while Congress lacks confirmation of such events occurring, leaders of both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have initiated formal investigations. Turner emphasized that "if that occurred, that would be very serious and I agree that that would be an illegal act."
The congressional scrutiny comes as the Trump administration escalates its campaign against drug trafficking into the United States. President Trump confirmed Sunday that he recently spoke with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whose government the U.S. administration claims controls some of the cartels targeted by the Caribbean strikes.
Administration Response and Ongoing Oversight
Defense Secretary Hegseth responded to the allegations on social media platform X, calling the Washington Post report "fake news" and "fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting." He asserted that current operations in the Caribbean are "lawful under both U.S. and international law" and have received proper legal approval throughout the chain of command.
President Trump stated his administration "will look into" the matter but added, "I wouldn't have wanted that — not a second strike." The president defended his defense secretary, saying "Pete said he did not order the death of those two men. And I believe him."
Congressional oversight committees are moving forward with bipartisan investigations. The Senate Armed Services Committee, led by Republican Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi and top Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island, committed to "conducting vigorous oversight to determine the facts." Their House counterparts issued a similar statement emphasizing their commitment to "rigorous oversight of the Department of Defense's military operations in the Caribbean."
Representative Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, suggested the allegations seemed inconsistent with military protocol, stating "I don't think he would be foolish enough to make this decision to say, kill everybody, kill the survivors because that's a clear violation of the law of war."
The developments occur alongside escalating tensions with Venezuela, as President Trump declared Venezuelan airspace "closed in its entirety" on Saturday, prompting accusations from Maduro's government of "colonial threat" and sovereignty violations.
