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CNN– Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle voiced serious concerns over the weekend over reports on a follow-up strike that killed survivors on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean, with some suggesting it could constitute a “war crime.”
Rep. Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, said the follow-up strike was “completely outside of anything that has been discussed with Congress” about the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean.
“Obviously, if that occurred, that would be very serious, and I agree that that would be an illegal act,” he said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, told CBS that the attack “rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true.”Sources familiar with the matter previously told CNN that the military carried out a follow-up strike on a suspected drug vessel operating in the Caribbean on September 2 after an initial attack did not kill everyone on board. Before the operation, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the military to ensure the strike killed everyone on board, but it’s not clear whether he knew there were survivors before the second strike, one of the sources said.
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, who has been a target of the Trump administration’s ire for participating in a video reminding service members of their duty to disobey illegal orders, said Sunday that the strike could possibly be a war crime.
“It seems to,” Kelly, a former fighter pilot who served in the Navy for 25 years, told CNN’s Dana Bash.
“If what has been reported is accurate, I’ve got serious concerns about anybody in that … chain of command stepping over a line that they should never step over,” Kelly said on “State of the Union.”The comments come after the Republican-led Senate and House armed services committees pledged oversight on the follow-up strike.
The Senate Armed Service Committee’s Republican chair, Sen. Roger Wicker, and top Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed, said in a statement late Friday they “will be conducting vigorous oversight to determine the facts related to these circumstances.”
They were followed by their counterparts in the House, Reps. Mike Rogers and Adam Smith, who said Saturday they are “taking bipartisan action to gather a full accounting” of the strike.
CNN previously reported that people briefed on the “double-tap” strike said they were concerned that it could violate the law of armed conflict, which prohibits the execution of an enemy combatant who is “hors de combat,” or taken out of the fight due to injury or surrender.While the first strike appeared to disable the boat and cause deaths, the military assessed there were survivors, according to sources familiar with the matter. The second attack killed the remaining crew on board, bringing the total death toll to 11, and sank the ship.
Hegseth in a social media post Friday continued to defend the strikes on alleged drug boats, writing, “Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict—and approved by the best military and civilian lawyers, up and down the chain of command.”
President Donald Trump expressed confidence on Sunday that Hegseth did not order a second strike and signaled that he would not have approved of one.
“No. 1, I don’t know that that happened, and Pete said he did not want them — he didn’t even know what people were talking about,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One. “So, we’ll look into it, but no, I wouldn’t have wanted that, not a second strike.”Asked whether he believes there wasn’t a second strike, Trump said, “I don’t know; I’m going to find out about it. But Pete said he did not order the death of those two men.”
CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, Alison Main and Kit Maher contributed to this report.
The story and headline have been updated with additional information.
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Law makers in the US and around the world knows that’s what taking place in our Caribbean waters is lawless and unjustified, but everyone scared to stand up or even opposed this man in anyway. The slickness of this President is the way he speaks, you will never be able to pinned him down on most things, because of the way he phrases his sentences, on the other hand the head of the Department of War and a number of his Generals will be in trouble after this reign is completed.That’s why the Big man who was Commander of this southern region quickly resigned.
Yes, they are drug boats..we all know that.
We live in the Caribbean, and weall know how expensive a high powered speed boat engine can go for, and these boats have four of these engines on them.
So cry me a river, because you are trying to tell me that a fisherman who can’t even afford to feed his family in a impoverished country like Venezuela, can afford to have 4 high powered engine on his boat, just going out for a joy ride in the middle of the Ocean?
I don’t like the killings, but these are “drug and gun boats”.
Every day these same boats are testing the Haitian coast guard, who are trying to get a grip on the madness in Haiti. Didn’t we just send some solderers to Haiti to help out in that madness? What do you think these drug lords in Haiti survives on?
Haiti and the DR are the two biggest drug trade routes in the Caribbean..so stop the foolishness..we have long seen the effects of what drugs and guns can do in the our civil society.
There was a time in Antigua when there were crackheads everywhere..so let’s not sit here and be gullible to what these drug cartels are doing.
@Islanman26…… I’m waiting for the day when the US sees your car driving on the streets or your house just being where it is, and identify either as a drug or gun entity and bomb it. Let’s see how you like that.
I have no sympathy for drug-runners. Not in my back yard! Find another way to make a living, like every body else. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. I can’t afford to get rid of them myself, so thank you Donald Trump! The world needs you!
The world is a cycle!
Islanman26 is truly an ALP idiot on steroids, I think his comments should be just ignored. Where ignorance is bliss it’s folly to be wise. Nuff said about him.
Hegseth and Trump have their special place reserved in hell. How can you keep on taking people’s lives on suspicion of trafficking drugs. America more than have the ability and fire power to capture these boats and make certain they are transporting drugs then take appropriate action
@capone.
Your little frail sensibilities can’t take the toughest on crime, don’t do crime then.
Someone is taking a stance on these drugs and gun runners, and I’m all for it. The same bloody guns and drugs that are destroying Antigua and many of the Caribbean islands.
So call me all you like, because I’m on the side of stopping the madness..
And I don’t pick sides when it comes to your foolish party politics dude, you would know that if you really read my comments.
I don’t like GB, because he’s a crook, and anyone that’s the epitome of evil is also in my cross ears, including Donald Trump on some things. But this drug thing, is long over due, and I back his move on this.
@ Islanman26
Every time America blows up a boat they jeep saying suspected of carrying drugs. I am for punishing anyone smuggling drugs in the harshest of ways but you cannot kill people on suspicion. That is pure stupidity and naked power. If you cannot understand that something is wrong with you
@capone.
I have said many times that I do not condone the killings, but the warning was sent out, and they ignored it.
I’m not gonna sit here and cry over some criminals who have profited off the suffering of others..so it is what it is at this moment.
This is a necessary evil as you may call it.
The warning was sent out..
It’s the same as the pirates in Somalia who keep raiding the cargo ships..These same drug runs have been going on for decades now unimpeded, so like I said, cry me a river.
The only country in the world that can operate above any International Law with impunity. And that is not just Trump. All Presidents before are guilty of extra-judicial killings of those they determine are a threat to the USA. No trial needed. They will fly a drome to a wedding or a funeral and the rest of the people around are considered collateral damage. Not human life with certain rights.
@islandman26 you missed the entire point of the criticism you were given, it’s not even certain that these boots are drug boats and never been given proof before getting to part of being judge, jury and executioner.
@Capobe the type boat itself is the prove that they are trafficking drugs or guns or both. No further discussion.
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