Congress Demands Review of Military Strikes Amid Legal Concerns

Lawmakers from both parties are calling for congressional reviews of U.S. military strikes targeting vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. This response comes after a report from the Washington Post alleged that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for all crew members to be killed during a strike on September 2. While some Republicans expressed skepticism about the report’s accuracy, concerns about the legality of such actions have emerged.

Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, stated, “This rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true.” He emphasized the serious legal implications associated with follow-up strikes against individuals who may no longer pose a threat. In response, Representative Mike Turner, a Republican from Ohio, acknowledged that Congress lacks complete information about the events surrounding the attack. “If that occurred, that would be very serious and I agree that that would be an illegal act,” Turner affirmed.

Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have initiated investigations into the matter. Turner pointed out that allegations concerning the September 2 attack have not previously been discussed with Congress, adding, “There is an ongoing investigation.” The discussions arise as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign against drug trafficking entering the United States.

On September 30, President Donald Trump declared that the airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety.” This statement has drawn criticism from the government of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which accused Trump of making a “colonial threat” that undermines the nation’s sovereignty.

Following the Washington Post report, Hegseth took to social media platform X to assert, “Fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.” He maintained that U.S. operations in the Caribbean align with both U.S. and international law, stating that all actions comply with the law of armed conflict and have been approved by military and civilian lawyers throughout the command chain.

In a joint statement released on September 29, Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and its top Democrat, Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, emphasized their commitment to “vigorous oversight” to ascertain the facts regarding these military actions. Subsequently, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Representative Mike Rogers of Alabama, along with ranking member Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington, affirmed their dedication to providing rigorous oversight of the Department of Defense’s military operations in the Caribbean region.

“We take seriously the reports of follow-on strikes on boats alleged to be ferrying narcotics in the SOUTHCOM region and are taking bipartisan action to gather a full accounting of the operation in question,” Rogers and Smith stated.

Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, when questioned about the September 2 attack, expressed that Hegseth should have the opportunity to present his side of the story. “We should get to the truth. I don’t think he would be foolish enough to make this decision to say, kill everybody, kill the survivors because that’s a clear violation of the law of war,” Bacon remarked, expressing skepticism about the accuracy of the report.

Kaine and Turner shared their perspectives on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” while Bacon appeared on ABC’s “This Week.” As investigations progress, the implications of these military actions and their legal standing will be closely examined by both Congress and the public.