Lawmakers from various political backgrounds are stepping up their calls for a closer look at a recent U.S. military operation targeting presumed drug smuggling boats. This scrutiny comes in response to a shocking report alleging that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth verbally commanded that all individuals aboard a suspected drug trafficking vessel be executed.
Among those voicing concerns is Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee, along with Republican Representative Mike Rogers, the leader of the House Armed Services Committee.
According to a report by The Washington Post, on September 2, a U.S. commander ordered a follow-up strike on a suspected drug vessel in the southern Caribbean based on Hegseth’s alleged directive to kill everyone aboard. This attack reportedly resulted in the death of two survivors.
This mission marked the initiation of a broader campaign targeting suspected drug trafficking operations across the southern Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Estimates suggest that at least 83 people have died as a consequence of over 20 such strikes, according to government figures.
Hegseth has since reb the allegations, labeling them as “fake news,” and asserting that the military actions in the Caribbean are lawful, aligning with both U.S. and international legal standards. He emphasizes that all actions were ratified by leading legal experts within the military command.
Former military attorneys and international observers, however, have voiced their apprehensions regarding the potentially unlawful nature of these attacks. Late last year, The Post revealed a classified memo from the Justice Department indicating that personnel involved in these operations would not face prosecution down the line.
Responding to the reports, White House communications director Steven Cheung asserted via social media that The Post failed to provide any substantial facts or corroboration.
President Trump expressed his confidence in Hegseth’s professional integrity, stating he doubts any such directive was ever given. He remarked, “I wouldn’t have wanted that—a second strike. The first strike was very lethal. It was fine.”
Simultaneously, there has been significant U.S. military buildup near Venezuela, coinciding with the arrival of major naval assets, including the nation’s largest aircraft carrier. This increased naval presence is perceived as a strategy to exert pressure on and potentially undermine Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro.
The U.S. government has issued a $50 million bounty for information leading to Maduro’s capture, along with rewards for other high-ranking Venezuelan officials. Washington has accused Maduro of heading the notorious Cartel de los Soles, which allegedly comprises influential political, military, and judicial figures in Venezuela.
In a recent designation, the U.S. labeled the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. President Trump has not excluded the possibility of military action against Venezuela and escalated pressure on Maduro by declaring the notion of closed airspace over the country.
While one nation cannot unilaterally annex another’s airspace, it can restrict its own airline operations in the region and issue safety warnings. In response to Trump’s statements, Venezuela’s foreign minister condemned them as “a unilateral and arbitrary act, contrary to international law principles.”
Republicans Urging Accountability
Senator Roger Wicker and Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed have publicly demanded thorough oversight of these military operations and pledged to uncover the truth behind the circumstances of the assaults.
Similarly, Representative Mike Rogers has committed to rigorous oversight concerning the Defense Department’s operations in the Caribbean, expressing concern over reports of strikes against vessels purportedly trafficking narcotics.
Republican Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska mentioned he was doubtful regarding Hegseth having commanded such strikes, but acknowledged the seriousness of the situation. “We need the complete truth,” he commented.
Expressing that potential misconduct would be extraordinarily serious, Representative Michael Turner of Ohio reiterated that if the account is accurate, it might constitute a serious legal violation.
Despite voices for accountability, some of Trump’s Republican allies have dismissed the urgency over the strikes, with Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma expressing skepticism over the validity of the report.
