WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Monday that a Navy admiral acted “within his authority and the law” when he ordered a second follow-up attack on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean Sea during a U.S. military operation in September that has come under bipartisan oversight.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt provided the justification for the Sept. 2 strike after lawmakers from both parties announced Sunday support for congressional reviews of U.S. military strikes on ships suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean, citing a published report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had issued a verbal order for a second strike that killed survivors on the boat in that incident.
Leavitt, in her comments to reporters on Monday, did not dispute a Washington Post report that there were survivors after the initial attack on the incident. Her statement came after President Donald Trump said a day earlier that he “wouldn’t have wanted that – no second strike” when asked about the incident.
“Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes,” Leavitt said, referring to U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Frank Bradley, who was commander of the Joint Special Operations Command at the time. “Admiral Bradley, working well within his authority and within the law, led the command to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated.”
Lawmakers said they didn’t know if last week’s Post report was true, and some Republicans were skeptical. Still, they said reports of attacks on survivors of an initial rocket attack raised serious legal concerns and merited further investigation.
“If true, this rises to the level of a war crime,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
When Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, was asked about a follow-up attack targeting people no longer able to fight, Congress said he had no information about what took place. He noted that leaders of the Armed Services Committee in both the House of Representatives and the Senate have opened investigations.
“Obviously if that were to happen it would be very serious and I agree that would be an illegal act,” Turner said.
Trump strongly defended Hegseth on Sunday.
“Pete said he did not order the deaths of those two men,” Trump said. He added: “And I believe him.”
Leavitt said Hegseth has spoken to members of Congress who may have expressed some concerns about the reports over the weekend.
Following the Post’s report, Hegseth said Friday on X that “fake news produces more fabricated, inflammatory and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.”
“Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions consistent with the laws of armed conflict – and approved by the best military and civilian lawyers, both within and outside the chain of command,” Hegseth wrote.
Leavitt also confirmed that Trump would hold a meeting with his national security team later on Monday to discuss ongoing operations in the Caribbean Sea and possible next steps against Venezuela.
The US government says the attacks in the Caribbean are targeting drug cartels, some of which it claims are controlled by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump is also considering whether to launch attacks on the Venezuelan mainland.
Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had recently spoken by phone with Maduro, but declined to provide details of the conversation.
The September attack was one in a series carried out by the US military in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean after Trump ordered the build-up of a fleet of warships near Venezuela, including the largest US aircraft carrier.
More than 80 people have been killed in attacks on small boats that the Trump administration claims are smuggling narcotics for drug cartels.
Venezuela’s National Assembly has announced the launch of an investigation into the deadly US attacks
Sunday’s announcement by Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez marked the first time a Maduro government official explicitly acknowledged that Venezuelans have been killed during the months-long U.S. military operation.
Rodríguez, Maduro’s chief negotiator, said a group of lawmakers will meet to investigate “the serious events that led to the killing of Venezuelans in the waters of the Caribbean Sea.”
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