Lawmakers Demand Answers on Reported Order to Kill Survivors of U.S. Strike on Suspected Drug Boat

Members of Congress from both parties said Sunday they support a full review of U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific following a report alleging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth verbally ordered all survivors of a September 2 drug-smuggling strike to be killed.

While lawmakers stressed the facts remain unclear, they warned the reported allegation—detailed in The Washington Post—raises profound legal and moral concerns.
“This rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) noted that Congress currently has no evidence a follow-up strike on incapacitated individuals occurred, but confirmed bipartisan investigations are underway in both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

President Donald Trump, returning from Thanksgiving events in Florida, confirmed he recently spoke with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro regarding regional tensions. The administration says cartel-linked drug routes—some allegedly tied to Maduro’s regime—justify intensified U.S. strikes. Trump declined to comment on details of the call.

Hegseth forcefully rejected the allegations on X, calling them “fabricated” and affirming that U.S. operations follow domestic and international law. Trump said he would “look into” the matter but added, “I wouldn’t have wanted that—not a second strike.”

Military leaders continue visiting Caribbean governments as the administration expands counter-drug efforts. Meanwhile, Venezuela accused Washington of issuing “colonial threats” after Trump declared the airspace surrounding the country “closed in its entirety.”

Multiple committee chairs in Congress issued rare joint bipartisan statements promising vigorous oversight, while some GOP lawmakers said Hegseth deserves an opportunity to respond before conclusions are drawn.