Bipartisan Lawmakers Probe Trump-Backed Military Strikes in Caribbean/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Lawmakers from both parties called for a congressional review into U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels, amid reports of an alleged illegal kill order. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is accused of verbally instructing troops to kill survivors in a controversial Sept. 2 incident. President Trump defended Hegseth and confirmed contact with Venezuela’s Maduro.
Trump Military Strike Review Quick Looks
- Lawmakers support congressional oversight into recent U.S. military strikes on boats.
- A report alleges Defense Secretary Hegseth ordered unlawful follow-up attacks on survivors.
- President Trump defended Hegseth and said he’d “look into” the claims.
- Trump confirmed a recent call with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
- Trump administration has ramped up anti-cartel strikes near Venezuela.
- The Washington Post first reported on the controversial Sept. 2 strike.
- Bipartisan Armed Services Committee members are launching investigations.
- Lawmakers warned the alleged actions could constitute a war crime.
- Hegseth and Trump deny ordering or supporting illegal conduct.
- Venezuelan officials denounced U.S. airspace threats as “colonial.”
Deep Look
Lawmakers Back Investigations into Trump’s Boat Strikes as Hegseth Faces War Crime Allegations
WASHINGTON — Members of Congress from both parties are supporting formal investigations into a series of U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific. The bipartisan concern follows a Washington Post report alleging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an illegal verbal order to kill all survivors during a Sept. 2 military operation.
Although lawmakers said they have yet to verify the report’s accuracy, the seriousness of the allegations has prompted swift bipartisan calls for congressional oversight. The alleged directive—if proven—could amount to a violation of international law and potentially a war crime.
“This rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true,” said Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, speaking on CBS’ Face the Nation. “We absolutely need a thorough investigation.”
Republican Representative Mike Turner of Ohio echoed the call for scrutiny, while stressing that Congress has not yet been presented with evidence confirming the allegations.
“Obviously, if that occurred, that would be very serious and I agree that it would be an illegal act,” Turner said, confirming that both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have launched probes.
The incident in question stems from a U.S. military strike on September 2, which reportedly targeted a vessel suspected of transporting narcotics. According to the Washington Post, Hegseth allegedly ordered U.S. forces to ensure all crew members were killed, even those who had survived an initial missile strike.
President Donald Trump addressed the controversy while returning from Florida aboard Air Force One on Sunday. Though he said his administration would investigate the matter, he defended Hegseth.
“Pete said he did not order the death of those two men,” Trump told reporters. “And I believe him.”
Trump also acknowledged a recent phone conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—a first in months of strained relations. While he declined to disclose the details, Trump described the exchange as neither positive nor negative.
“I wouldn’t say it went well or badly,” he said.
The Trump administration claims that several of the drug smuggling networks operating in the Caribbean are backed or controlled by the Maduro regime. In response, Trump has considered extending military operations into Venezuela itself and on Saturday declared the airspace surrounding the country “closed in its entirety.”
That statement provoked backlash from Caracas, with Venezuela’s government calling it a “colonial threat” that violates their sovereignty.
Hegseth, under mounting pressure, dismissed the allegations in a post on social media platform X. “Fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors,” he wrote. He insisted that the current operations are “lawful under both U.S. and international law,” and that they are vetted by military and civilian lawyers.
Trump also distanced himself from the reported kill order. “I wouldn’t have wanted that — not a second strike,” the president said, hinting that any such action would not have had his approval.
The leadership of both congressional Armed Services Committees has responded quickly. On Friday, Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi, and Senator Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island, issued a joint statement pledging to conduct “vigorous oversight” into the incident. A similar statement was issued the next day by Representative Mike Rogers of Alabama and Representative Adam Smith of Washington, who lead the House Armed Services Committee.
“We take seriously the reports of follow-on strikes on boats alleged to be ferrying narcotics in the SOUTHCOM region,” they stated. “We are taking bipartisan action to gather a full accounting of the operation in question.”
Representative Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, also weighed in, voicing skepticism about the validity of the reported order.
“We should get to the truth,” Bacon said on ABC’s This Week. “I don’t think [Hegseth] would be foolish enough to say ‘kill everybody,’ because that’s a clear violation of the law of war.”
The alleged actions, if confirmed, would not only contradict U.S. military protocols but could ignite international condemnation. While the Trump administration has emphasized the legitimacy of its counter-narcotics campaign, questions remain about its transparency and adherence to the law of armed conflict.
The ongoing investigation is expected to bring further scrutiny to Trump’s military policies in Latin America, especially as he considers escalating strikes against the Venezuelan government.
As tensions increase both abroad and in Washington, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree on at least one point: full transparency and legal accountability are now essential.
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