Lawmakers from both parties expressed their support on Sunday for congressional investigations into U.S. military strikes targeting vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific. This follows a report alleging that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order during a September 2 attack that called for the execution of all crew members. While some lawmakers are skeptical about the accuracy of the Washington Post report, they raised significant legal concerns regarding the potential targeting of survivors after an initial missile strike.
Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, stated, “This rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true.” Republican Representative Mike Turner from Ohio pointed out that Congress lacks information about the follow-up strikes and emphasized that leaders of both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have initiated investigations into the matter. Turner remarked that if such actions occurred, they would be both serious and illegal.
Dialogues in Congress have focused on concerns about attacks on vessels that the Trump administration claims are involved in drug trafficking. However, Turner noted that the allegations regarding the September 2 attack had not been previously discussed with Congress and were under ongoing investigation. These comments came at a time when the administration is intensifying efforts to combat drug trafficking into the U.S.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump labeled the airspace over Venezuela as “closed in its entirety,” prompting further scrutiny about U.S. pressure tactics on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who responded by accusing Trump of issuing a “colonial threat” aimed at undermining the country’s sovereignty.
In response to the initial report, Hegseth took to social media platform X, declaring that “fake news” had been spreading fabricated and inflammatory stories aimed at discrediting U.S. military efforts. He asserted that current operations in the Caribbean align with both U.S. and international law, endorsed by military and civilian legal experts throughout the command structure.
Senator Roger Wicker, Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator Jack Reed, its top Democrat, released a joint statement confirming their intent to conduct thorough oversight to ascertain the facts surrounding the reported incidents. Additionally, the chairs of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mike Rogers from Alabama and ranking member Rep. Adam Smith from Washington, echoed this commitment, stating their dedication to overseeing military operations in the Caribbean linked to narcotics transportation.
“We take seriously reports of follow-on strikes on boats alleged to be ferrying narcotics,” they said, highlighting their bipartisan approach to gathering a full account of the operations. Meanwhile, Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska emphasized that Hegseth deserves an opportunity to explain his position regarding the September 2 attack. He stated, “We should get to the truth,” expressing doubt that such extreme orders could be given, as they contradict the principles of warfare.
Kaine and Turner appeared on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” whereas Bacon discussed the matter on ABC’s “This Week,” further illustrating the complexity of the issues at hand and the differing perspectives within Congress.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/world/lawmakers-voice-support-for-congressional-reviews-of-trumps-military-strikes-on-boats-10394938/
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Publish Date: 2025-12-01 01:44:00
