🔗 Share this article American Navy Commander to Update Lawmakers as Cross-Party Examination Intensifies Over Maritime Engagement A senior US Navy admiral is set to deliver a confidential briefing to lawmakers overseeing the armed forces this Thursday, as investigators probe a US attack on a vessel in the Caribbean waters. This event, which allegedly struck a craft transporting narcotics, reportedly involved a second engagement that eliminated any survivors. Administration Defends Strikes as Defensive Measures The administration spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, on the start of the week stated that the second strike was carried out “in self-defence” and in compliance with laws governing armed conflict. Cross-party examination has increased over a account that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order in last month to attack the vessel. Democratic lawmakers have said the allegations, initially disclosed recently, could amount to a violation of international law, and Republicans have also voiced their apprehensions about the legality of the strike on September 2nd. The House and Senate armed services committees have initiated investigations into the recent series of US military strikes on boats in the Caribbean region and Pacific waters. “Secretary Hegseth authorised the naval commander to conduct these military actions,” said Leavitt. “The commander acted well within his mandate and the legal framework, directing the operation to ensure the vessel was neutralized and the danger to the United States of America was removed.” In her remarks to the press, Leavitt did not challenge the report that there were survivors after the first strike. Her justification came after former President Donald Trump a day earlier remarked he “wouldn’t have wanted that – not a follow-up attack” when questioned about the incident. Mounting Legislative Concern and Internal Support Late on Monday, Hegseth posted: “The Admiral is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand by him and the battlefield judgments he has made – on the September 2nd operation and all others since.” A month after the strike, Bradley was elevated from commander of JSOC to commander of US Special Operations Command. Concern over the government’s military strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels has been building in the legislature, but details of this follow-on strike shocked many lawmakers from across the aisle and generated stark inquiries about the legality of the operations and the broader policy in the area, particularly toward Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The lawmakers indicated they did not know whether last week’s news story was true, and some GOP senators were doubtful. Nevertheless, they said the alleged attacking of individuals of an first missile strike presented serious concerns and deserved further scrutiny. Administration and Military Officials Affirm Stance The administration commented after the president on Sunday strongly defended Hegseth. “Secretary Hegseth said he did not order the killing of those two men,” Trump said. He added, “And I believe him.” Leavitt said Hegseth had conversed with members of Congress who may have expressed some worries about the reports over the weekend. Gen Dan Caine, the head of the joint chiefs of staff, also spoke over the weekend period with the bipartisan leaders leading the Senate and House military committees. He restated “his faith in the experienced officers at every echelon”, Caine’s spokesperson said in a statement. The release added that the conversation focused on “discussing the intent and lawfulness of missions to interrupt illicit trafficking networks which threaten the security and stability of the Americas”. Legislative Leaders Respond and Pledge Investigation The Senate majority leader, John Thune, on the week's start broadly supported the missions, repeating the White House line that they were necessary to stem 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 judgments or inferences until you have complete information,” he remarked of the 2 September strike. “We’ll see where they point.” Following the news article, Hegseth wrote on Friday that “fake news is producing more false, inflammatory, and derogatory coverage to discredit our remarkable warriors fighting to defend the nation”. “Our current operations in the Caribbean are legal under both American and global statutes, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict – and approved by the most qualified military and civilian lawyers, throughout the chain of command,” Hegseth wrote. The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, called Hegseth a “national embarrassment” over his response to detractors. Schumer demanded that Hegseth make public the video of the strike and appear under penalty of perjury about what transpired. The GOP lawmaker for Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the chair of the Senate military panel, pledged that his panel’s investigation would be “conducted thoroughly and by the book”. “We’ll find out the facts,” he added, noting that the implications of the report were “serious charges”. The 2 September strike was part of a sequence executed by the American armed forces in the Caribbean and Pacific as Trump has ordered the deployment of a fleet of warships near Venezuela, including the biggest US aircraft carrier. Over 80 people were fatally wounded in the strikes.
A senior US Navy admiral is set to deliver a confidential briefing to lawmakers overseeing the armed forces this Thursday, as investigators probe a US attack on a vessel in the Caribbean waters. This event, which allegedly struck a craft transporting narcotics, reportedly involved a second engagement that eliminated any survivors. Administration Defends Strikes as Defensive Measures The administration spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, on the start of the week stated that the second strike was carried out “in self-defence” and in compliance with laws governing armed conflict. Cross-party examination has increased over a account that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order in last month to attack the vessel. Democratic lawmakers have said the allegations, initially disclosed recently, could amount to a violation of international law, and Republicans have also voiced their apprehensions about the legality of the strike on September 2nd. The House and Senate armed services committees have initiated investigations into the recent series of US military strikes on boats in the Caribbean region and Pacific waters. “Secretary Hegseth authorised the naval commander to conduct these military actions,” said Leavitt. “The commander acted well within his mandate and the legal framework, directing the operation to ensure the vessel was neutralized and the danger to the United States of America was removed.” In her remarks to the press, Leavitt did not challenge the report that there were survivors after the first strike. Her justification came after former President Donald Trump a day earlier remarked he “wouldn’t have wanted that – not a follow-up attack” when questioned about the incident. Mounting Legislative Concern and Internal Support Late on Monday, Hegseth posted: “The Admiral is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand by him and the battlefield judgments he has made – on the September 2nd operation and all others since.” A month after the strike, Bradley was elevated from commander of JSOC to commander of US Special Operations Command. Concern over the government’s military strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels has been building in the legislature, but details of this follow-on strike shocked many lawmakers from across the aisle and generated stark inquiries about the legality of the operations and the broader policy in the area, particularly toward Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The lawmakers indicated they did not know whether last week’s news story was true, and some GOP senators were doubtful. Nevertheless, they said the alleged attacking of individuals of an first missile strike presented serious concerns and deserved further scrutiny. Administration and Military Officials Affirm Stance The administration commented after the president on Sunday strongly defended Hegseth. “Secretary Hegseth said he did not order the killing of those two men,” Trump said. He added, “And I believe him.” Leavitt said Hegseth had conversed with members of Congress who may have expressed some worries about the reports over the weekend. Gen Dan Caine, the head of the joint chiefs of staff, also spoke over the weekend period with the bipartisan leaders leading the Senate and House military committees. He restated “his faith in the experienced officers at every echelon”, Caine’s spokesperson said in a statement. The release added that the conversation focused on “discussing the intent and lawfulness of missions to interrupt illicit trafficking networks which threaten the security and stability of the Americas”. Legislative Leaders Respond and Pledge Investigation The Senate majority leader, John Thune, on the week's start broadly supported the missions, repeating the White House line that they were necessary to stem 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 judgments or inferences until you have complete information,” he remarked of the 2 September strike. “We’ll see where they point.” Following the news article, Hegseth wrote on Friday that “fake news is producing more false, inflammatory, and derogatory coverage to discredit our remarkable warriors fighting to defend the nation”. “Our current operations in the Caribbean are legal under both American and global statutes, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict – and approved by the most qualified military and civilian lawyers, throughout the chain of command,” Hegseth wrote. The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, called Hegseth a “national embarrassment” over his response to detractors. Schumer demanded that Hegseth make public the video of the strike and appear under penalty of perjury about what transpired. The GOP lawmaker for Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the chair of the Senate military panel, pledged that his panel’s investigation would be “conducted thoroughly and by the book”. “We’ll find out the facts,” he added, noting that the implications of the report were “serious charges”. The 2 September strike was part of a sequence executed by the American armed forces in the Caribbean and Pacific as Trump has ordered the deployment of a fleet of warships near Venezuela, including the biggest US aircraft carrier. Over 80 people were fatally wounded in the strikes.