Washington, D.C.: US lawmakers are pressing the Trump administration for answers after reports that a follow-up military strike was ordered to kill survivors of an initial attack on a suspected Venezuelan drug boat.
The controversy erupted following a report by The Washington Post that on 2 September, a US strike on a drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean left two survivors, prompting a second attack allegedly ordered to “kill everybody” on board. The strikes are part of an expanded US anti-narcotics operation targeting suspected drug-smuggling boats in international waters off Venezuela and Colombia. More than 80 people have reportedly been killed since early September.
Lawmakers Call for Oversight
Republican-led committees overseeing the Pentagon have vowed “vigorous oversight” of the strikes. Senator Roger Wicker, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and his Democrat counterpart, Senator Jack Reed, said the committee has launched inquiries to determine the facts. The House Armed Services Committee has also pledged bipartisan action to fully investigate the operation.
Speaking on Sunday talk shows, lawmakers from both parties expressed concern over the allegations. Democrat Senator Tim Kaine stated, “This rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true.” Republican Representative Mike Turner added that Congress had no confirmation the follow-up strike occurred but noted that if it had, it would constitute an illegal act.
Defense Department and Administration Response
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied the claims, calling them “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory.” He stated on social media that all strikes were lawful under US and international law, adding, “Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization.”
President Trump defended Hegseth, saying, “He said he did not say that. And I believe him a 100%,” while also noting the administration would review the matter. Trump added, “I wouldn’t have wanted that—not a second strike.”
Venezuelan Response
Venezuela’s National Assembly condemned the US strikes, promising a “rigorous and thorough investigation” into the alleged follow-up attack that reportedly killed survivors. The Venezuelan government accused the US of stoking regional tensions to undermine the Venezuelan government.
Legal Concerns
The US is not a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, though US military legal advisors have stated operations should align with the convention’s principles, which generally prohibit interference with vessels in international waters except under limited exceptions, such as “hot pursuit.” Professor Luke Moffett of Queen’s University Belfast noted, “Force can be used to stop a boat but generally this should be non-lethal measures.”
The unfolding controversy underscores growing scrutiny of US military operations in the Caribbean and their legal and ethical implications.
