Lawmakers probe Trump administration Caribbean strikes after Hegseth report

Prime navy lawmakers are launching an investigation into the Trump administration’s lethal assaults within the Caribbean following a Washington Submit report alleging that Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the U.S. navy to kill anybody who survived a Sept. 2 assault on an alleged narcotics ship.

“We are going to conduct vigorous surveillance to find out the details relating to these circumstances,” mentioned Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss. of the Senate Armed Providers Committee, and Rating Member Jack Reed, D-R.I., in a joint assertion.

Leaders of the Home Armed Providers Committee introduced a parallel overview and mentioned they have been looking for “a full accounting” of the operation.

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“We take significantly studies of follow-up assaults on boats allegedly transporting narcotics within the SOUTHCOM area,” mentioned Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Democrat Adam Smith, D-Wash.

They mentioned the fee is pursuing bipartisan oversight.

The Washington Submit reportprinted Friday, quotes unnamed people as claiming that Hegseth “gave a voice command” to “kill everybody” aboard a ship that U.S. intelligence believed was transporting narcotics within the Caribbean Sea. A Joint Particular Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 mission “ordered a second strike to adjust to Hegseth’s directions” after two survivors have been seen within the water after the preliminary blast, the report mentioned.

White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Admiral Frank Bradley, commander of Particular Operations Command, ordered the second strike. She denied that Hegseth ordered the “assassination” however mentioned: “Admiral Bradley labored effectively inside his authority and the legislation governing the order to make sure that the boat was destroyed and the risk to the US of America was eradicated.”

US forces have killed 80 folks in narco assaults within the Caribbean. (@SecWar through X)

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Some lawmakers questioned the “homicide order” clarification, stressing that they haven’t been knowledgeable of any orders much like what was described.

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a retired Air Drive brigadier common who has criticized Pentagon management on unrelated points, mentioned he’s skeptical that such an order would have been issued.

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“Protection Minister Hegseth denies it. We’ve got to seek out out the reality,” Bacon mentioned on ABC. “I do not assume he can be silly sufficient to make this choice by saying, ‘Kill everybody, kill the survivors,’ as a result of that may be a clear violation of the legal guidelines of conflict.” So I’m very suspicious that he would have carried out one thing like that, as a result of it could be opposite to frequent sense.’

Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, the previous chairman of the Home Intelligence Committee, made an identical level on Sunday.

“If that have been to occur, it could be very critical, and I agree that it could be an unlawful act,” he informed CBS, including that the allegation is “fully exterior of something that has been mentioned with Congress.”

The Submit reported that within the September 2 operation – the primary in a sequence of speedy strikes concentrating on alleged Venezuelan and Colombian narcotics networks – two survivors clung to the wreckage earlier than follow-up munitions have been deployed. The Pentagon publicly reported that 11 suspected drug traffickers have been killed within the incident.

Hegseth strongly denied the story, calling it “fabricated, inflammatory and derogatory.”

Secretary of Conflict Pete Hegseth strongly denied the story, calling it “fabricated, inflammatory and derogatory.” (The related press)

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“As we have now mentioned from the start and in each assertion, these extremely efficient strikes are particularly meant as ‘deadly, kinetic assaults,’” he wrote on

The Pentagon declined to supply any extra context when requested by Fox Information.

Turner mentioned this weekend that nothing resembling the reported follow-up strike has been described to date within the congressional deliberations.

“There are very critical issues in Congress in regards to the assaults on the so-called drug boats within the Caribbean and the Pacific, and the authorized justification that’s being given,” he mentioned. “However that is fully exterior of something mentioned with Congress, and an investigation is ongoing.”

Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, mentioned this weekend that nothing resembling the reported follow-up strike has been described to date in congressional deliberations. (X.com/SecWar)

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Since September, U.S. forces have carried out a minimum of 20 strikes towards suspected naval drug traffickers within the Caribbean and jap Pacific, killing about 80 folks the federal government mentioned have been linked to designated Venezuelan and Colombian prison organizations. Senior officers have argued that the operations are essential to disrupt what they describe as “narcoterrorist” teams linked to Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

The escalated tempo comes because the Trump administration will increase strain on Maduro.

President Donald Trump warned this previous week that industrial airways ought to “take into account Venezuelan airspace closed,” a directive that aviation and protection analysts word may precede assaults deeper into Venezuelan territory if the administration believes teams affiliated with Maduro pose a rising risk.