đ Share this article US Navy Commander to Brief Congress as Cross-Party Examination Grows Over Boat Strike A high-ranking American naval admiral is set to deliver a classified update to congressional members overseeing the armed forces this Thursday, as investigators probe a American attack on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea. This event, which allegedly targeted a craft carrying drugs, reportedly included a follow-up strike that killed any remaining individuals. White House Justifies Strikes as Defensive Measures The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, on Monday asserted that the second strike was conducted âas a defensive actionâ and in compliance with laws pertaining to armed conflict. Cross-party scrutiny has increased over a report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order in September to attack the boat. Democrats have said the allegations, first reported last week, could amount to a violation of international law, and GOP members have also voiced their apprehensions about the legality of the attack on 2 September. The House and Senate military oversight panels have opened inquiries into the recent US military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean region and Pacific waters. âSecretary Hegseth authorised the naval commander to conduct these kinetic strikes,â said Leavitt. âThe commander worked well within his mandate and the law, overseeing the operation to ensure the vessel was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was removed.â In her comments to the press, Leavitt did not dispute the account that there were survivors after the initial attack. Her explanation came following ex-President Donald Trump a day earlier remarked he âwouldnât have wanted that â not a second strikeâ when questioned about the event. Growing Congressional Concern and Internal Backing Monday evening, Hegseth wrote online: âThe Admiral is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand by him and the battlefield judgments he has made â on the September 2nd operation and all others since.â A month following the engagement, Bradley was promoted from commander of JSOC to commander of USSOCOM. Concern over the governmentâs armed actions against suspected narcotics-trafficking boats has been building in Congress, but details of this subsequent attack stunned many legislators from both parties and generated stark questions about the lawfulness of the operations and the overall strategy in the region, particularly toward Venezuela's leader NicolĂĄs Maduro. The congressional members indicated they did not have confirmation whether the recent report was true, and some Republicans were doubtful. Still, they stated the alleged attacking of survivors of an initial missile strike presented grave issues and merited further scrutiny. White House and Military Officials Reiterate Position The administration commented after the president on the weekend vigorously defended Hegseth. âPete said he did not command the killing of those two men,â Trump stated. He continued, âAnd I believe him.â Leavitt noted Hegseth had conversed with congressional representatives who may have voiced some concerns about the allegations over the weekend. Gen Dan Caine, the head of the joint chiefs of staff, also spoke over the weekend period with the two Republican and two Democratic lawmakers heading the Senate and House military committees. He reiterated âhis trust and confidence in the seasoned officers at every echelonâ, Caineâs spokesperson said in a statement. The release added that the conversation centered on âdiscussing the intent and legality of missions to disrupt illegal smuggling rings which threaten the security and security of the western hemisphereâ. Legislative Figures React and Promise Investigation The top Senate Republican, John Thune, on the week's start broadly supported the operations, repeating the administration position that they were essential to stop the flow of illicit drugs into the US. Thune said the panels in the legislature would investigate what occurred. âI donât think you want to make any conclusions or inferences until you have all the facts,â he remarked of the September 2nd attack. âWeâll see where they point.â Following the news article, Hegseth wrote on the end of the week that âfake news is delivering more false, inflammatory, and disparaging coverage to undermine our remarkable service members fighting to protect the homelandâ. âOur ongoing missions in the Caribbean are lawful under both American and international law, with every step in compliance with the law of armed conflict â and approved by the most qualified military and civilian lawyers, up and down the military hierarchy,â Hegseth wrote. The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, labeled Hegseth a ânational embarrassmentâ over his response to detractors. Schumer demanded that Hegseth make public the video of the strike and appear under penalty of perjury about what transpired. The Republican senator for Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the chair of the Senate military panel, pledged that his panelâs investigation would be âconducted thoroughly and by the bookâ. âWeâll find out the facts,â he added, stating that the implications of the report were âgrave accusationsâ. The 2 September strike was part of a sequence executed 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. Over 80 people were fatally wounded in the series of attacks.
A high-ranking American naval admiral is set to deliver a classified update to congressional members overseeing the armed forces this Thursday, as investigators probe a American attack on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea. This event, which allegedly targeted a craft carrying drugs, reportedly included a follow-up strike that killed any remaining individuals. White House Justifies Strikes as Defensive Measures The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, on Monday asserted that the second strike was conducted âas a defensive actionâ and in compliance with laws pertaining to armed conflict. Cross-party scrutiny has increased over a report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order in September to attack the boat. Democrats have said the allegations, first reported last week, could amount to a violation of international law, and GOP members have also voiced their apprehensions about the legality of the attack on 2 September. The House and Senate military oversight panels have opened inquiries into the recent US military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean region and Pacific waters. âSecretary Hegseth authorised the naval commander to conduct these kinetic strikes,â said Leavitt. âThe commander worked well within his mandate and the law, overseeing the operation to ensure the vessel was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was removed.â In her comments to the press, Leavitt did not dispute the account that there were survivors after the initial attack. Her explanation came following ex-President Donald Trump a day earlier remarked he âwouldnât have wanted that â not a second strikeâ when questioned about the event. Growing Congressional Concern and Internal Backing Monday evening, Hegseth wrote online: âThe Admiral is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand by him and the battlefield judgments he has made â on the September 2nd operation and all others since.â A month following the engagement, Bradley was promoted from commander of JSOC to commander of USSOCOM. Concern over the governmentâs armed actions against suspected narcotics-trafficking boats has been building in Congress, but details of this subsequent attack stunned many legislators from both parties and generated stark questions about the lawfulness of the operations and the overall strategy in the region, particularly toward Venezuela's leader NicolĂĄs Maduro. The congressional members indicated they did not have confirmation whether the recent report was true, and some Republicans were doubtful. Still, they stated the alleged attacking of survivors of an initial missile strike presented grave issues and merited further scrutiny. White House and Military Officials Reiterate Position The administration commented after the president on the weekend vigorously defended Hegseth. âPete said he did not command the killing of those two men,â Trump stated. He continued, âAnd I believe him.â Leavitt noted Hegseth had conversed with congressional representatives who may have voiced some concerns about the allegations over the weekend. Gen Dan Caine, the head of the joint chiefs of staff, also spoke over the weekend period with the two Republican and two Democratic lawmakers heading the Senate and House military committees. He reiterated âhis trust and confidence in the seasoned officers at every echelonâ, Caineâs spokesperson said in a statement. The release added that the conversation centered on âdiscussing the intent and legality of missions to disrupt illegal smuggling rings which threaten the security and security of the western hemisphereâ. Legislative Figures React and Promise Investigation The top Senate Republican, John Thune, on the week's start broadly supported the operations, repeating the administration position that they were essential to stop the flow of illicit drugs into the US. Thune said the panels in the legislature would investigate what occurred. âI donât think you want to make any conclusions or inferences until you have all the facts,â he remarked of the September 2nd attack. âWeâll see where they point.â Following the news article, Hegseth wrote on the end of the week that âfake news is delivering more false, inflammatory, and disparaging coverage to undermine our remarkable service members fighting to protect the homelandâ. âOur ongoing missions in the Caribbean are lawful under both American and international law, with every step in compliance with the law of armed conflict â and approved by the most qualified military and civilian lawyers, up and down the military hierarchy,â Hegseth wrote. The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, labeled Hegseth a ânational embarrassmentâ over his response to detractors. Schumer demanded that Hegseth make public the video of the strike and appear under penalty of perjury about what transpired. The Republican senator for Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the chair of the Senate military panel, pledged that his panelâs investigation would be âconducted thoroughly and by the bookâ. âWeâll find out the facts,â he added, stating that the implications of the report were âgrave accusationsâ. The 2 September strike was part of a sequence executed 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. Over 80 people were fatally wounded in the series of attacks.