Lawmakers suggest follow-up boat strike could constitute a war crime
Leading Republicans have joined Democrats in demanding an investigation into the escalating military campaign announced by the Trump administration to combat drug trafficking in the Caribbean. The calls followed reports that a second strike was ordered against boat survivors after an initial attack.
Source The New York Times
According to a Washington Post report, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly gave a verbal command to kill everyone aboard vessels suspected of smuggling drugs. This resulted in a military commander ordering a follow-up strike in early September to eliminate those who survived the first attack. Representative Mike Turner, a Republican from Ohio, stated such actions would be illegal and very serious if verified.
The issue raises concerns about the legality of U.S. military operations and may prompt official inquiries, alongside calls for changes in how drug trafficking is tackled at sea.
