🔗 Share this article US Navy Commander to Brief Lawmakers as Bipartisan Scrutiny Intensifies Over Vessel Attack A senior American naval admiral is set to deliver a confidential briefing to lawmakers overseeing the military this week, as investigators examine a American strike on a boat in the Caribbean waters. The incident, which allegedly struck a craft carrying narcotics, allegedly included a follow-up engagement that eliminated any survivors. White House 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 laws pertaining to military engagement. Cross-party scrutiny has mounted over a account that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth gave a verbal order in September to strike the boat. Democratic lawmakers have argued the allegations, first reported last week, could constitute a war crime, and GOP members have also expressed their apprehensions about the lawfulness of the strike on 2 September. The Congressional military oversight panels have initiated investigations into the recent series of US military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean. “The Defense Secretary directed Adm [Frank M] Bradley to execute these kinetic strikes,” said Leavitt. “The commander acted well within his authority and the law, overseeing the operation to ensure the boat was destroyed and the danger to the United States was eliminated.” In her remarks to reporters, Leavitt did not dispute the account that there were individuals who survived after the first attack. Her explanation came following ex-President Donald Trump a day earlier remarked he “would not have approved that – not a second strike” when questioned about the incident. Growing Congressional Unease and Administration Support Late on Monday, Hegseth posted: “Adm Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a consummate professional, and has my full and complete backing. I support him and the combat decisions he has made – on the September 2 mission and all others since.” A thirty days following the engagement, Bradley was promoted from head of JSOC to commander 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 both parties and sparked stark inquiries about the lawfulness of the attacks and the broader policy in the region, particularly toward Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The lawmakers said they did not have confirmation whether last week’s report was true, and some GOP senators were sceptical. Still, they said the reported attacking of survivors of an initial rocket attack presented serious concerns and merited additional investigation. Administration and Military Leaders Reiterate Position The administration weighed in after the commander-in-chief on Sunday vigorously defended Hegseth. “Secretary Hegseth said he did not order the killing of those individuals,” Trump stated. He added, “And I believe him.” Leavitt noted Hegseth had conversed with members of Congress who may have voiced some worries about the reports over the weekend. Gen Dan Caine, the head of the military's top officers, also communicated over the weekend period with the bipartisan leaders leading the Senate and House armed services committees. He reiterated “his faith in the seasoned commanders at every echelon”, Caine’s spokesperson stated in a release. The release added that the call focused on “addressing the purpose and legality of operations to interrupt illicit trafficking networks which endanger the security and stability of the western hemisphere”. Congressional Figures Respond and Pledge Investigation The Senate majority leader, John Thune, on Monday broadly supported the operations, echoing the White House line that they were necessary to stem the flow of illicit drugs into the US. Thune said the panels in Congress would look into what happened. “I don’t think you want to draw any judgments or deductions until you have all the facts,” he said of the September 2nd attack. “We’ll see where they lead.” Following the news article, Hegseth said on the end of the week that “fake news is producing more fabricated, provocative, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors working to protect the homeland”. “Our ongoing missions in the Caribbean are lawful under both US and global statutes, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict – and sanctioned by the most qualified military and civilian lawyers, throughout the chain of command,” Hegseth stated. The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, labeled Hegseth a “national embarrassment” over his reaction to critics. Schumer demanded that Hegseth release the footage of the strike and testify under oath about what transpired. The Republican senator for the state of Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate armed services committee, vowed that his panel’s investigation would be “done by the numbers”. “We’ll discover the ground truth,” he added, stating that the ramifications of the report were “grave accusations”. The September 2nd engagement was one in a series executed by the US military in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean as Trump has ordered the buildup of a fleet of warships near Venezuela, including the biggest US carrier. More than eighty individuals were fatally wounded in the strikes.
A senior American naval admiral is set to deliver a confidential briefing to lawmakers overseeing the military this week, as investigators examine a American strike on a boat in the Caribbean waters. The incident, which allegedly struck a craft carrying narcotics, allegedly included a follow-up engagement that eliminated any survivors. White House 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 laws pertaining to military engagement. Cross-party scrutiny has mounted over a account that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth gave a verbal order in September to strike the boat. Democratic lawmakers have argued the allegations, first reported last week, could constitute a war crime, and GOP members have also expressed their apprehensions about the lawfulness of the strike on 2 September. The Congressional military oversight panels have initiated investigations into the recent series of US military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean. “The Defense Secretary directed Adm [Frank M] Bradley to execute these kinetic strikes,” said Leavitt. “The commander acted well within his authority and the law, overseeing the operation to ensure the boat was destroyed and the danger to the United States was eliminated.” In her remarks to reporters, Leavitt did not dispute the account that there were individuals who survived after the first attack. Her explanation came following ex-President Donald Trump a day earlier remarked he “would not have approved that – not a second strike” when questioned about the incident. Growing Congressional Unease and Administration Support Late on Monday, Hegseth posted: “Adm Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a consummate professional, and has my full and complete backing. I support him and the combat decisions he has made – on the September 2 mission and all others since.” A thirty days following the engagement, Bradley was promoted from head of JSOC to commander 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 both parties and sparked stark inquiries about the lawfulness of the attacks and the broader policy in the region, particularly toward Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The lawmakers said they did not have confirmation whether last week’s report was true, and some GOP senators were sceptical. Still, they said the reported attacking of survivors of an initial rocket attack presented serious concerns and merited additional investigation. Administration and Military Leaders Reiterate Position The administration weighed in after the commander-in-chief on Sunday vigorously defended Hegseth. “Secretary Hegseth said he did not order the killing of those individuals,” Trump stated. He added, “And I believe him.” Leavitt noted Hegseth had conversed with members of Congress who may have voiced some worries about the reports over the weekend. Gen Dan Caine, the head of the military's top officers, also communicated over the weekend period with the bipartisan leaders leading the Senate and House armed services committees. He reiterated “his faith in the seasoned commanders at every echelon”, Caine’s spokesperson stated in a release. The release added that the call focused on “addressing the purpose and legality of operations to interrupt illicit trafficking networks which endanger the security and stability of the western hemisphere”. Congressional Figures Respond and Pledge Investigation The Senate majority leader, John Thune, on Monday broadly supported the operations, echoing the White House line that they were necessary to stem the flow of illicit drugs into the US. Thune said the panels in Congress would look into what happened. “I don’t think you want to draw any judgments or deductions until you have all the facts,” he said of the September 2nd attack. “We’ll see where they lead.” Following the news article, Hegseth said on the end of the week that “fake news is producing more fabricated, provocative, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors working to protect the homeland”. “Our ongoing missions in the Caribbean are lawful under both US and global statutes, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict – and sanctioned by the most qualified military and civilian lawyers, throughout the chain of command,” Hegseth stated. The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, labeled Hegseth a “national embarrassment” over his reaction to critics. Schumer demanded that Hegseth release the footage of the strike and testify under oath about what transpired. The Republican senator for the state of Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate armed services committee, vowed that his panel’s investigation would be “done by the numbers”. “We’ll discover the ground truth,” he added, stating that the ramifications of the report were “grave accusations”. The September 2nd engagement was one in a series executed by the US military in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean as Trump has ordered the buildup of a fleet of warships near Venezuela, including the biggest US carrier. More than eighty individuals were fatally wounded in the strikes.