The White House stood by a U.S. admiral’s decision to carry out multiple strikes on a suspected Venezuelan drug-smuggling boat in September, citing approval from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite concerns over the legality of a strike on survivors. Reports indicated a second strike was ordered to eliminate two survivors from the initial attack, following Hegseth’s directive to eliminate everyone on board.
President Donald Trump stated he did not support a second strike on the vessel and denied that Hegseth issued such an order. However, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt affirmed on Monday that Hegseth had indeed authorized U.S. Admiral Frank Bradley to conduct the strikes on September 2, emphasizing that Bradley acted within his legal jurisdiction.
The strike was asserted to be a defensive measure to safeguard U.S. interests, executed in international waters and in accordance with the laws of armed conflict. The White House labeled the targeted individuals as foreign terrorist organizations. Since September, the U.S. military has conducted around 19 strikes on alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Latin America, resulting in the deaths of at least 76 individuals.
Critics have raised doubts about the legality of these strikes, prompting both Republican and Democratic lawmakers to pledge investigations into the matter. International humanitarian law prohibits attacks on incapacitated combatants, stating that shipwrecked individuals must not be targeted and should receive medical assistance unless they exhibit hostilities or attempt to flee.
Legal experts argue that the boat strikes may not qualify as armed conflict, hence the use of lethal force should be a last resort. The JAGs Working Group, comprising former military legal experts, condemned the order as “patently illegal,” urging service members to disobey it and advocating for prosecution of those who comply for war crimes.
President Trump discussed potential actions against Venezuela during a meeting with senior advisors, including the enforcement of a closed airspace policy around the country. The administration has been evaluating strategies to combat what it perceives as President Nicolas Maduro’s involvement in drug trafficking, a claim Maduro refutes. Despite using drug trafficking as a justification for the boat strikes near Venezuela, Trump’s decision to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández has generated criticism.
The U.S. is reportedly contemplating various options in Venezuela, including regime change efforts and increased military operations following a substantial military buildup in the region. Additionally, covert CIA operations in the country have been authorized by Trump.