The White House has publicly defended a controversial follow-up military strike carried out by the United States Navy against a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean Sea last September. This defence comes amid growing bipartisan pressure in Washington for thorough investigations and a parallel inquiry launched by Venezuela into the deaths of its nationals.
White House Backs Commander, Trump Distances Himself
On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Vice Admiral Frank Bradley, who was then the commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, acted lawfully. She asserted he operated "within his authority and the law" when he ordered a second kinetic strike on September 2. The second strike was ordered after an initial hit disabled the boat but left survivors onboard.
Leavitt clarified that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had authorised Bradley to conduct these strikes. However, President Donald Trump offered a nuanced view over the weekend. He initially said he "wouldn't have wanted that - not a second strike," but later defended Hegseth, telling reporters he believed the Defence Secretary's claim that he did not order the deaths of the two men.
Bipartisan Uproar in Congress Over Legality
The incident, first reported by The Washington Post, has triggered significant concern among US lawmakers from both major parties. The core issue revolves around the legality of targeting survivors who are no longer capable of combat.
Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, made a strong statement, saying, "This rises to the level of a war crime if it's true." Republican Representative Mike Turner noted that Congress lacked confirmation survivors were targeted but acknowledged that if it occurred, it would be a very serious illegal act.
Consequently, leaders of both the House and Senate armed services committees have initiated reviews into the September incident. Senate Majority Leader John Thune emphasised the need for oversight but cautioned against drawing conclusions without all the facts.
In response to the criticism, Defence Secretary Hegseth took to social media platform X to denounce the report as "fake news" and "fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting." He insisted all current operations are lawful and vetted by military and civilian lawyers throughout the chain of command.
US Signals Continued Operations Amid Venezuelan Protests
The Pentagon maintains that these maritime strikes are a critical part of ongoing efforts to dismantle drug-trafficking networks operating in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Official figures state that more than 80 people have been killed in these interdiction operations, with at least 17 fatalities occurring in the first three attacks acknowledged by the Trump administration.
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently assured congressional leaders of his support for commanders and discussed the intent and legality of the missions. Meanwhile, the US government appears to be considering an escalation. President Trump met with his national security team on Monday to deliberate "next steps," which reportedly include potential strikes on Venezuelan territory itself.
Trump confirmed a recent conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro but did not disclose details. This development occurs against the backdrop of formal protests from Caracas, which has opened its own inquiry into the deaths of Venezuelan citizens during the September naval engagement.
