🔗 Share this article American Navy Commander to Update Lawmakers as Cross-Party Examination Intensifies Over Vessel Attack A senior US Navy officer is scheduled to deliver a confidential briefing to lawmakers monitoring the military this Thursday, as investigators probe a US attack on a boat in the Caribbean Sea. This event, which allegedly struck a boat carrying drugs, reportedly included a follow-up engagement that eliminated any remaining individuals. White House Defends Actions as Self-Defense The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, on Monday asserted that the follow-on engagement was conducted “in self-defence” and in accordance with regulations governing military engagement. Bipartisan scrutiny has mounted over a report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a verbal order in last month to attack the vessel. Democrats have argued the claims, first reported recently, could constitute a war crime, and GOP members have also expressed their concerns about the legality of the attack on 2 September. The Congressional armed services committees have opened inquiries into the recent US military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean region and Pacific waters. “The Defense Secretary directed Adm [Frank M] Bradley to execute these military actions,” said Leavitt. “Adm Bradley worked well within his mandate and the legal framework, directing the operation to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated.” In her remarks to reporters, Leavitt did not dispute the report that there were individuals who survived after the first attack. Her explanation came following ex-President Donald Trump a day earlier remarked he “wouldn’t have wanted that – not a second strike” when asked about the incident. Growing Congressional Concern and Administration Backing Late on Monday, Hegseth posted: “Adm Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a consummate professional, and has my full and complete backing. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made – on the September 2 mission and all others since.” A month after the engagement, Bradley was promoted from head of Joint Special Operations Command to commander of US Special Operations Command. Anxiety over the administration’s military strikes against alleged narcotics-trafficking boats has been building in Congress, but details of this subsequent attack stunned many legislators from both parties and sparked stark inquiries about the legality of the attacks and the broader policy in the area, particularly toward Venezuela's leader Nicolás Maduro. The congressional members indicated they did not have confirmation whether last week’s news story was accurate, and some GOP senators were sceptical. Still, they stated the reported attacking of individuals of an first rocket attack presented serious concerns and merited further scrutiny. White House and Military Officials Reiterate Stance The administration commented after the president on Sunday vigorously defended Hegseth. “Secretary Hegseth said he did not command the death of those two men,” Trump stated. He continued, “And I believe him.” Leavitt said Hegseth had spoken with members of Congress who may have expressed some concerns about the reports over the past few days. Gen Dan Caine, the head of the joint chiefs of staff, also communicated over the weekend with the two Republican and two Democratic lawmakers leading the Senate and House military committees. He reiterated “his trust and confidence in the experienced officers at every level”, Caine’s spokesperson said in a statement. The statement added that the call centered on “addressing the intent and legality of missions to interrupt 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 Monday generally supported the operations, repeating the administration position that they were essential to stem the flow of illegal narcotics into the US. Thune said the panels in Congress would look into what happened. “I don’t think you want to draw any conclusions or inferences until you have all the facts,” he remarked of the 2 September strike. “We’ll see where they lead.” After the news article, Hegseth wrote on Friday that “fake news is producing more false, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors working to defend the homeland”. “Our ongoing missions in the Caribbean are lawful under both American and global statutes, with all actions in compliance with the rules of war – and sanctioned by the most qualified legal advisors, up and down the chain of command,” Hegseth wrote. The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, called Hegseth a “national embarrassment” over his reaction to critics. Schumer called for that Hegseth release the video of the attack and appear under penalty of perjury about what transpired. The GOP lawmaker for Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the chair of the Senate armed services committee, vowed that his committee's inquiry would be “conducted thoroughly and by the book”. “We’ll find out the facts,” he added, noting that the ramifications of the allegation were “serious charges”. The September 2nd strike was one in a series carried out 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. More than eighty individuals were fatally wounded in the strikes.
A senior US Navy officer is scheduled to deliver a confidential briefing to lawmakers monitoring the military this Thursday, as investigators probe a US attack on a boat in the Caribbean Sea. This event, which allegedly struck a boat carrying drugs, reportedly included a follow-up engagement that eliminated any remaining individuals. White House Defends Actions as Self-Defense The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, on Monday asserted that the follow-on engagement was conducted “in self-defence” and in accordance with regulations governing military engagement. Bipartisan scrutiny has mounted over a report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a verbal order in last month to attack the vessel. Democrats have argued the claims, first reported recently, could constitute a war crime, and GOP members have also expressed their concerns about the legality of the attack on 2 September. The Congressional armed services committees have opened inquiries into the recent US military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean region and Pacific waters. “The Defense Secretary directed Adm [Frank M] Bradley to execute these military actions,” said Leavitt. “Adm Bradley worked well within his mandate and the legal framework, directing the operation to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated.” In her remarks to reporters, Leavitt did not dispute the report that there were individuals who survived after the first attack. Her explanation came following ex-President Donald Trump a day earlier remarked he “wouldn’t have wanted that – not a second strike” when asked about the incident. Growing Congressional Concern and Administration Backing Late on Monday, Hegseth posted: “Adm Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a consummate professional, and has my full and complete backing. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made – on the September 2 mission and all others since.” A month after the engagement, Bradley was promoted from head of Joint Special Operations Command to commander of US Special Operations Command. Anxiety over the administration’s military strikes against alleged narcotics-trafficking boats has been building in Congress, but details of this subsequent attack stunned many legislators from both parties and sparked stark inquiries about the legality of the attacks and the broader policy in the area, particularly toward Venezuela's leader Nicolás Maduro. The congressional members indicated they did not have confirmation whether last week’s news story was accurate, and some GOP senators were sceptical. Still, they stated the reported attacking of individuals of an first rocket attack presented serious concerns and merited further scrutiny. White House and Military Officials Reiterate Stance The administration commented after the president on Sunday vigorously defended Hegseth. “Secretary Hegseth said he did not command the death of those two men,” Trump stated. He continued, “And I believe him.” Leavitt said Hegseth had spoken with members of Congress who may have expressed some concerns about the reports over the past few days. Gen Dan Caine, the head of the joint chiefs of staff, also communicated over the weekend with the two Republican and two Democratic lawmakers leading the Senate and House military committees. He reiterated “his trust and confidence in the experienced officers at every level”, Caine’s spokesperson said in a statement. The statement added that the call centered on “addressing the intent and legality of missions to interrupt 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 Monday generally supported the operations, repeating the administration position that they were essential to stem the flow of illegal narcotics into the US. Thune said the panels in Congress would look into what happened. “I don’t think you want to draw any conclusions or inferences until you have all the facts,” he remarked of the 2 September strike. “We’ll see where they lead.” After the news article, Hegseth wrote on Friday that “fake news is producing more false, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors working to defend the homeland”. “Our ongoing missions in the Caribbean are lawful under both American and global statutes, with all actions in compliance with the rules of war – and sanctioned by the most qualified legal advisors, up and down the chain of command,” Hegseth wrote. The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, called Hegseth a “national embarrassment” over his reaction to critics. Schumer called for that Hegseth release the video of the attack and appear under penalty of perjury about what transpired. The GOP lawmaker for Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the chair of the Senate armed services committee, vowed that his committee's inquiry would be “conducted thoroughly and by the book”. “We’ll find out the facts,” he added, noting that the ramifications of the allegation were “serious charges”. The September 2nd strike was one in a series carried out 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. More than eighty individuals were fatally wounded in the strikes.