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WASHINGTON – Congressional armed services committees in both the House and Senate have launched bipartisan reviews into the Trump administration's lethal anti-drug trafficking operations in the Caribbean and Pacific. The inquiries follow a report alleging that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members, including survivors, during a military strike on a suspected drug boat on September 2.
The controversy stems from a Washington Post report, which cited seven individuals with knowledge of the operation. According to the report, after an initial missile strike on the vessel, U.S. forces identified two survivors. A commander overseeing the attack allegedly then ordered a second strike to kill them, following Secretary Hegseth's directive. NBC News has not independently confirmed the claims, but the report has triggered alarm on Capitol Hill.
In response, Secretary Hegseth dismissed the allegations on the social media platform X as "fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting." He maintained that the military's ongoing operations are lawful and comply with the law of armed conflict. President Donald Trump defended his Defense Secretary, stating, "Pete said he did not order the death of those two men... And I believe him," though he added that he "wouldn't have wanted" a second strike. He confirmed the administration would investigate the matter.
Leading members of Congress from both parties have voiced significant concern. The leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees released joint statements committing to a full and bipartisan review of the military's actions. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told CBS that the allegation, if proven true, "rises to the level of a war crime." Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, agreed that such an act would be illegal and very serious.
The September 2 incident is part of a wider military campaign named "Operation Southern Spear," which has involved at least 21 known strikes against alleged cartel vessels since early September, resulting in over 80 deaths. The administration justifies the operations as a necessary escalation in an "armed conflict" against drug cartels, some of which it links to the Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro. This aggressive posture has fueled concerns among lawmakers regarding the legal basis and transparency of the lethal force being used without explicit congressional authorization, leading to bipartisan support for congressional reviews.
