Lawmakers Demand Urgent Review of Trump’s Military Strikes

UPDATE: A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urgently calling for congressional reviews of U.S. military strikes against vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea. This follows alarming reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly issued a verbal order to kill all crew members during a strike on September 2, raising serious legal concerns.

During appearances on Sunday news shows, senators and representatives expressed their support for investigations into these military actions. They emphasized that if the allegations are true, it could constitute a war crime. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) stated, “This rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true.” Meanwhile, Representative Mike Turner (R-OH) confirmed that Congress is currently lacking information about the follow-up strikes, which targeted survivors from initial missile attacks.

These developments come as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign against drug trafficking, with Donald Trump declaring that the airspace over Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety.” This declaration has sparked tensions, as Venezuelan officials accused Trump of making a “colonial threat” against their sovereignty.

“Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law,” Hegseth stated on social media, insisting that all actions comply with the law of armed conflict.

In a joint statement, Senate Armed Services Committee leaders, including Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI), pledged to conduct rigorous oversight of the incidents, emphasizing the need to establish the facts surrounding the strikes. Similarly, the House Armed Services Committee led by Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) echoed this commitment, vowing to scrutinize the Department of Defense’s military operations in the region.

Representative Don Bacon (R-NE) remarked that Hegseth should be given the opportunity to explain his decisions, stating, “We should get to the truth. I don’t think he would be foolish enough to make this decision to say, kill everybody, kill the survivors because that’s a clear violation of the law of war.”

The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated. Lawmakers are pushing for accountability, as the implications of these military actions extend beyond U.S. borders, affecting international relations and humanitarian considerations in the Caribbean and beyond.

As investigations continue, the public and Congress are left waiting for answers. The fallout from these allegations could have significant repercussions not just for the Trump administration but also for U.S. military policy moving forward.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as lawmakers strive for transparency regarding the military’s actions in the Caribbean.