🔗 Share this article US Admiral to Inform Lawmakers as Cross-Party Examination Grows Over Boat Strike A high-ranking US Navy officer is scheduled to provide a classified briefing to lawmakers overseeing the military this Thursday, as they probe a American strike on a boat in the Caribbean Sea. This event, which allegedly targeted a craft transporting drugs, reportedly involved a second strike that eliminated any survivors. Administration Defends Strikes as Defensive Measures The administration spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, on Monday asserted that the follow-on engagement was conducted “in self-defence” and in compliance with regulations pertaining to military engagement. Bipartisan examination has increased over a account that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order in September to attack the vessel. Democratic lawmakers have said the allegations, first reported recently, could constitute a war crime, and GOP members have also expressed their concerns about the lawfulness of the strike on 2 September. The Congressional armed services committees have opened inquiries into the recent US military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific waters. “Secretary Hegseth directed the naval commander to execute these military actions,” stated Leavitt. “The commander worked well within his authority and the legal framework, directing the engagement to ensure the vessel was destroyed and the threat to the United States was eliminated.” In her remarks to the press, Leavitt did not dispute the account that there were individuals who survived after the initial attack. Her explanation came after ex-President Donald Trump a day earlier remarked he “wouldn’t have wanted that – not a follow-up attack” when questioned about the event. Mounting Legislative Unease and Internal Support Monday evening, Hegseth wrote online: “Adm Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a consummate professional, and has my full and complete backing. I support him and the battlefield judgments he has made – on the September 2nd operation and all others since.” A month following the strike, Bradley was promoted from commander of Joint Special Operations Command to chief of US Special Operations Command. Concern over the administration’s military strikes against alleged narcotics-trafficking boats has been building in Congress, but details of this subsequent attack stunned many lawmakers from across the aisle and sparked stark inquiries about the lawfulness of the attacks and the overall strategy in the area, particularly toward Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The congressional members indicated they did not have confirmation whether the recent news story was true, and some GOP senators were doubtful. Still, they said the reported targeting of individuals of an initial rocket attack presented serious concerns and deserved further scrutiny. Administration and Pentagon Leaders Reiterate Stance The administration commented after the president on the weekend strongly defended Hegseth. “Pete said he did not command the death of those individuals,” Trump said. He continued, “And I trust him.” Leavitt said Hegseth had spoken with members of Congress who may have voiced some concerns about the allegations over the weekend. Gen Dan Caine, the chair of the military's top officers, also communicated over the weekend with the two Republican and two Democratic lawmakers leading the Senate and House armed services committees. He reiterated “his trust and confidence in the experienced officers at every echelon”, Caine’s spokesperson said in a release. The release added that the call centered on “discussing the intent and lawfulness of missions to disrupt illicit trafficking networks which threaten the safety and security of the western hemisphere”. Congressional Leaders Respond and Pledge Probe The top Senate Republican, John Thune, on the week's start generally defended the missions, repeating the administration position that they were necessary to stop the flow of illegal narcotics into the US. Thune said the panels in the legislature would look into what occurred. “I don’t think you want to draw any conclusions or inferences until you have complete information,” he said of the September 2nd strike. “We’ll see where they lead.” After the news article, Hegseth said on Friday that “misleading reporting is producing more fabricated, inflammatory, and disparaging coverage to discredit our incredible service members working to defend the nation”. “Our ongoing missions in the region are legal under both US and global statutes, with all actions in compliance with the rules of war – and sanctioned by the best legal advisors, throughout the chain of command,” Hegseth stated. The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, called Hegseth a “disgrace” over his reaction to detractors. Schumer demanded that Hegseth release the video of the strike and testify under oath about what transpired. The GOP lawmaker for the state of Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate military panel, pledged that his panel’s investigation would be “conducted thoroughly and by the book”. “We’ll discover the ground truth,” he added, noting that the ramifications of the report were “grave accusations”. The September 2nd engagement was one in a series carried out by the US military in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific as Trump has ordered the buildup of a naval group of warships near the Venezuelan coast, including the largest US carrier. Over eighty individuals were fatally wounded in the strikes.
A high-ranking US Navy officer is scheduled to provide a classified briefing to lawmakers overseeing the military this Thursday, as they probe a American strike on a boat in the Caribbean Sea. This event, which allegedly targeted a craft transporting drugs, reportedly involved a second strike that eliminated any survivors. Administration Defends Strikes as Defensive Measures The administration spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, on Monday asserted that the follow-on engagement was conducted “in self-defence” and in compliance with regulations pertaining to military engagement. Bipartisan examination has increased over a account that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order in September to attack the vessel. Democratic lawmakers have said the allegations, first reported recently, could constitute a war crime, and GOP members have also expressed their concerns about the lawfulness of the strike on 2 September. The Congressional armed services committees have opened inquiries into the recent US military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific waters. “Secretary Hegseth directed the naval commander to execute these military actions,” stated Leavitt. “The commander worked well within his authority and the legal framework, directing the engagement to ensure the vessel was destroyed and the threat to the United States was eliminated.” In her remarks to the press, Leavitt did not dispute the account that there were individuals who survived after the initial attack. Her explanation came after ex-President Donald Trump a day earlier remarked he “wouldn’t have wanted that – not a follow-up attack” when questioned about the event. Mounting Legislative Unease and Internal Support Monday evening, Hegseth wrote online: “Adm Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a consummate professional, and has my full and complete backing. I support him and the battlefield judgments he has made – on the September 2nd operation and all others since.” A month following the strike, Bradley was promoted from commander of Joint Special Operations Command to chief of US Special Operations Command. Concern over the administration’s military strikes against alleged narcotics-trafficking boats has been building in Congress, but details of this subsequent attack stunned many lawmakers from across the aisle and sparked stark inquiries about the lawfulness of the attacks and the overall strategy in the area, particularly toward Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The congressional members indicated they did not have confirmation whether the recent news story was true, and some GOP senators were doubtful. Still, they said the reported targeting of individuals of an initial rocket attack presented serious concerns and deserved further scrutiny. Administration and Pentagon Leaders Reiterate Stance The administration commented after the president on the weekend strongly defended Hegseth. “Pete said he did not command the death of those individuals,” Trump said. He continued, “And I trust him.” Leavitt said Hegseth had spoken with members of Congress who may have voiced some concerns about the allegations over the weekend. Gen Dan Caine, the chair of the military's top officers, also communicated over the weekend with the two Republican and two Democratic lawmakers leading the Senate and House armed services committees. He reiterated “his trust and confidence in the experienced officers at every echelon”, Caine’s spokesperson said in a release. The release added that the call centered on “discussing the intent and lawfulness of missions to disrupt illicit trafficking networks which threaten the safety and security of the western hemisphere”. Congressional Leaders Respond and Pledge Probe The top Senate Republican, John Thune, on the week's start generally defended the missions, repeating the administration position that they were necessary to stop the flow of illegal narcotics into the US. Thune said the panels in the legislature would look into what occurred. “I don’t think you want to draw any conclusions or inferences until you have complete information,” he said of the September 2nd strike. “We’ll see where they lead.” After the news article, Hegseth said on Friday that “misleading reporting is producing more fabricated, inflammatory, and disparaging coverage to discredit our incredible service members working to defend the nation”. “Our ongoing missions in the region are legal under both US and global statutes, with all actions in compliance with the rules of war – and sanctioned by the best legal advisors, throughout the chain of command,” Hegseth stated. The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, called Hegseth a “disgrace” over his reaction to detractors. Schumer demanded that Hegseth release the video of the strike and testify under oath about what transpired. The GOP lawmaker for the state of Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate military panel, pledged that his panel’s investigation would be “conducted thoroughly and by the book”. “We’ll discover the ground truth,” he added, noting that the ramifications of the report were “grave accusations”. The September 2nd engagement was one in a series carried out by the US military in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific as Trump has ordered the buildup of a naval group of warships near the Venezuelan coast, including the largest US carrier. Over eighty individuals were fatally wounded in the strikes.