US senator flags possible war crime in September US Caribbean strike
The senator referenced claims from general reporting that alleged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had given a verbal instruction before the Sept. 2 mission ordering that everyone aboard the targeted boat be killed. Additional reporting indicated that a commander allegedly authorized a follow-up strike to eliminate two survivors so the directive would be fully carried out.
Van Hollen argued that even under the administration’s own assertion that the United States is engaged in an "armed conflict" with drug traffickers, intentionally killing surviving individuals would still constitute a war crime. He also pointed out that officials have not publicly defended this legal framework, cautioning that if the conflict justification does not apply, the act would amount to "plain murder."
The senator further stated that the defense secretary "should be held accountable" if such orders were indeed issued.
Officials within the administration have rejected the allegations, with a Pentagon spokesperson asserting that the "entire narrative was false." The head of Homeland Security also dismissed the claims, according to reports. Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Don Bacon questioned whether Hegseth would ever issue such a directive, though he acknowledged the situation was "a big concern."
Both chambers’ armed services committees are now reviewing the incident, which formed part of a wider campaign beginning in September that involved at least 21 strikes on boats suspected of carrying narcotics, resulting in at least 83 deaths.
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