The White House confirmed that a second U.S. strike against a narco-boat in the Caribbean killed survivors of the initial bombing, while exonerating Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, as Congress opens investigations into a possible war crime.

The White House confirmed that a second U.S. strike against a narco-boat in the Caribbean killed survivors of the initial bombing, while exonerating Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, as Congress opens investigations into a possible war crime.

360 Raw Magazine Staff

Context of the attack

On September 2, 2025, U.S. forces struck a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in international waters in the Caribbean.

According to The Washington Post and later confirmed by the White House, a second strike targeted the survivors of the first attack.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the operation was “in conformity with the law of armed conflict” and emphasized that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth did not issue the direct order.

Chain of command responsibility.

The administration stated that Admiral Frank M. “Mitch” Bradley, then commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, ordered the second strike in “self-defense.”

Hegseth had previously authorized Bradley to conduct “kinetic strikes” against vessels linked to narcotrafficking, but was cleared of direct responsibility for the decision to fire on survivors.

The official statement stressed that President Donald Trump and Hegseth had established that narcoterrorist groups designated as foreign terrorist organizations are legitimate targets for lethal force under the laws of war.

Congressional oversight

The incident has triggered accusations of a potential war crime and opened a bipartisan front of scrutiny in Congress.

Key committees have requested information from the Pentagon and are preparing hearings to determine whether the strike violated the Geneva Conventions and other international norms.

Lawmakers from both parties agree the operation raises serious questions about proportionality and legality in the administration’s counternarcotics campaign.

Strategic implications.

The strike is part of the Trump administration’s broader offensive against drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Venezuela, which includes the deployment of eight warships and more than 10,000 troops.

By designating narcotraffickers as “narcoterrorists,” the administration applies combat rules normally reserved for armed conflicts, expanding the military’s scope of action.

Yet, international law experts warn that targeting survivors could amount to an extrajudicial execution, intensifying debate over the legal limits of the counternarcotics strategy.

In summary: The U.S. acknowledged striking survivors of a narco-boat in the Caribbean, placing responsibility on Admiral Frank Bradley while exonerating Secretary Pete Hegseth. Congress is investigating whether the operation constitutes a war crime, as the White House defends its legality under the doctrine of combat against narcoterrorist organizations.

Sources press office official:/AFP/ AP/EFE/Washington / the white house/

Photos stock social networks /White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Washington the white house/ stock/archive/Washington, D.C. —White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

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