Washington: The White House has confirmed that the US military executed a second lethal strike on a suspected drug trafficking boat, resulting in the deaths of survivors from an earlier attack. This action has sparked outrage, with critics comparing it to a war crime, a notion seemingly supported by the US Navy’s own guidelines.
The controversy stems from a September 2 operation off the coast of South America. This was the first of over 20 strikes against alleged drug boats conducted by the Trump administration, which resulted in the deaths of 11 suspected “narco-terrorists” believed to be transporting drugs to the US via international waters.
The Washington Post reported that War Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly issued a verbal directive prior to the strike. According to two sources familiar with the situation, “The order was to kill everybody,” one source reportedly stated. When two individuals survived the initial strike, Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley, the commander in charge, ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s directive, as reported by the Post.
Official Responses and Legal Implications
Initially, Hegseth dismissed the explosive story as “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting.” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the department informed the Post that “this entire narrative was false.” However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday (AEDT) that Hegseth authorized Bradley to conduct “these kinetic strikes.” When asked to clarify if Bradley ordered the second strike, she confirmed, “And he was well within his authority to do so.”
When questioned about Hegseth’s alleged directive to kill everyone, Leavitt responded, “I would reject that the secretary of war ever said that. However, the president has made it quite clear that if narco-terrorists are trafficking illegal drugs towards the United States, he has the authority to kill them.”
The War Department’s manual on the laws of war states that individuals incapacitated by shipwreck are considered helpless and should not be targeted. Similarly, the US Navy’s handbook on naval operations prohibits intentionally attacking combatants who are hors de combat due to shipwreck, labeling such actions as “a grave breach of the law of armed conflict.”
Leavitt countered this argument by asserting, “The strike was conducted in international waters and in accordance with the law of armed conflict.”
Political and Legal Repercussions
Following the White House’s public statement that the order was given by Bradley, Hegseth took to social media to support his senior officer while emphasizing that the decision was Bradley’s. “Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100 percent support,” Hegseth stated. “I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made – on the September 2 mission and all others since. America is fortunate to have such men protecting us.”
Despite this, the war secretary now faces inquiries from multiple congressional committees. US President Donald Trump has also indicated that he will investigate the matter. In a joint statement, the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee announced that they would be “conducting vigorous oversight to determine the facts related to these circumstances.”
Democratic Senator and former naval officer Mark Kelly, a member of the committee, told CNN that if the allegations are true, they could constitute a war crime. “We’re going to have hearings, we’ll put people under oath,” he said. “I’ve got serious concerns about anybody in that chain of command stepping over a line that they should never step over.”
Broader Implications and Future Actions
President Trump expressed that he would not have wanted a second strike on survivors but believed Hegseth was not responsible. “Pete said that didn’t happen… Pete said he did not order the death of those two men,” Trump stated on Sunday. “We’ll look into it.”
Since the September 2 operation, over 80 individuals have been killed by US strikes on boats suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans. Hegseth and the Department of War frequently share footage of these strikes on social media.
The latest allegations have intensified ongoing concerns in Congress about the legality and ethics of these operations. Some lawmakers have complained for months about insufficient information being provided through official channels. Leavitt stated on Monday that 13 briefings had been conducted for 29 senators and 92 representatives, two-thirds of whom were Democrats.
The Trump administration has declared an armed conflict with cartels trafficking narcotics to the US, classifying suspected traffickers as “unlawful combatants” linked to Venezuelan gangs such as Tren de Aragua. The administration is also increasing its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying at least one nuclear-powered submarine and the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, which arrived last month.
In a social media post over the weekend, Trump instructed airlines to consider the airspace above and around Venezuela closed. Some analysts suggest this could be a precursor to expanded strikes or a strategy to gain leverage in potential negotiations with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Trump confirmed a conversation with Maduro but declined to disclose details. “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly, it was a phone call,” he commented. Trump is also scheduled to hold a meeting at the White House on Monday evening (Tuesday AEDT) to discuss next steps regarding Venezuela, amid speculation of an escalation in military operations to oust Maduro from power.
Meanwhile, Hegseth has defended the boat strikes in various media posts, including one featuring a cartoon turtle in a military helicopter firing a missile at fishing boats laden with packages. Hegseth asserted that all US operations in the Caribbean comply with US and international law, as well as the law of armed conflict, and are approved by military and civilian lawyers throughout the chain of command.
“Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organisation,” he stated. “We have only just begun to kill narco-terrorists.”
