Lawmakers from both political parties in the United States expressed their backing on Sunday for congressional assessments of military attacks authorized by President Donald Trump on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. According to a report, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly gave a verbal order for all crew members to be killed during a September 2 operation. The lawmakers, while some Republicans expressed doubt about the accuracy of the report labeled as “fake news” by Hegseth, raised concerns about the legality of targeting survivors following an initial missile strike.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia described the potential act as a war crime if proven true. Hegseth, in response, defended the operations in the Caribbean as being compliant with U.S. and international laws and approved by legal experts at all levels of command. President Trump mentioned that the administration would investigate the matter and expressed support for Hegseth, denying any direct involvement in ordering the deaths of crew members.
Republican Representative Mike Turner of Ohio acknowledged congressional inquiries into the alleged follow-up strike on incapacitated individuals. Turner emphasized the seriousness of such actions if confirmed, labeling them as illegal. Concerns were raised in Congress regarding the attacks on vessels suspected of drug trafficking. The lawmakers’ comments coincided with heightened U.S. efforts to combat drug smuggling into the country.
Furthermore, the administration’s decision to close the airspace above and around Venezuela raised additional questions, with the Venezuelan government accusing Trump of making colonial threats. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker and top Democrat Jack Reed pledged to conduct thorough oversight to determine the facts surrounding the incidents. The House Armed Services Committee leaders, Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Adam Smith, echoed the commitment to scrutinizing military operations in the Caribbean region.
Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska advocated for allowing Hegseth to present his side regarding the September 2 attack. Hegseth dismissed the report as fake news, criticizing what he deemed as fabricated and defamatory reporting aimed at undermining military personnel. Trump confirmed speaking with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with the administration asserting that the strikes target drug cartels allegedly linked to Maduro. The possibility of strikes on Venezuelan territory is under consideration by the U.S. government, while details of the call between Trump and Maduro remain undisclosed.