DOJO — The White House is defending its handling of a deadly U.S. military operation in the Caribbean after confirming that a second strike in September killed wounded survivors who remained alive after an initial attack on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel. The case has intensified scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s aggressive anti-narcotics campaign, which has already resulted in more than 20 lethal strikes at sea.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt insisted on Monday that Adm. Frank Bradley, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, acted “within his authority and the law” when ordering the follow-up strike. Eleven people were killed.
But the acknowledgement has only raised more questions, especially after The Washington Post reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly issued a verbal order to “kill everybody” on the boat — a claim Hegseth denies.
What Happened During the September Operation?
U.S. officials say the mission began with an airstrike on a vessel the administration classified as a “narco-terrorist” boat departing Venezuela. The first strike capsized the craft but left at least two people alive and clinging to debris.
The second strike, ordered minutes later, killed those survivors, according to officials speaking to multiple outlets.
Some legal experts say killing incapacitated survivors could constitute a war crime, depending on intent. The Pentagon, however, disputes the entire narrative, calling the reporting “completely false.”
Why the White House Is Under Pressure
Leavitt emphasized that Hegseth merely authorized Bradley to carry out the mission, distancing the Pentagon chief from operational decisions. She pointed to Trump’s earlier position that drug traffickers heading toward the U.S. could be lawfully targeted with lethal force.
The administration has framed the Caribbean operations as a counter-terrorism effort, arguing the traffickers are linked to designated terrorist organizations. More than 80 people have been killed across at least 20 U.S. strikes since September.
Hegseth publicly defended Bradley on Monday, calling him “a true professional” who made the correct “combat decisions.”
Trump himself initially appeared unaware of the second strike. When asked whether killing wounded survivors would be legal, he responded:
“I wouldn’t have wanted that — not a second strike.”
But he later said he believed Hegseth’s denial.
Congress Opens Bipartisan Investigations
Both chambers of Congress are now demanding answers.
Senate Armed Services Committee leaders Sens. Roger Wicker and Jack Reed said they have already issued formal inquiries to the Defense Department.
Their counterparts in the House — Reps. Mike Rogers and Adam Smith — announced a joint investigation into follow-on strikes across the Caribbean.
Lawmakers from both parties say they were not adequately briefed on the expansion of lethal operations near Venezuelan waters, even as Trump signals he may escalate toward broader military action.
Sen. Mark Kelly warned the allegations, if verified, “seem to” meet the definition of a war crime. “We hold ourselves to a very high standard,” he said.
A Shift Toward Lethal Force
Hegseth has granted wide latitude to battlefield commanders, allowing them to approve strikes without returning to Washington for authorization. That same authority is currently used in the Middle East and Europe, including Ukrainian strikes that employ U.S. systems.
Hegseth insists the Caribbean operations are lawful, effective and designed to “kill narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people.”
As concerns rise in Congress, Trump has doubled down on the mission itself:
“We’re going to kill them. They’re going to be, like, dead.”
The White House maintains that every strike has been reviewed by military and civilian lawyers, though the September operation remains at the center of growing political, legal and international scrutiny.
