đ Share this article US Admiral to Inform Lawmakers as Bipartisan Scrutiny Grows Over Vessel Attack A high-ranking US Navy officer is set to provide a confidential update to congressional members monitoring the military this week, as they probe a US attack on a vessel in the Caribbean waters. The incident, which reportedly targeted a craft transporting narcotics, reportedly included a second engagement that killed any survivors. Administration Defends Strikes as Defensive Measures The administration spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, on Monday asserted that the second strike was carried out âas a defensive actionâ and in accordance with regulations pertaining to armed conflict. Cross-party examination has increased over a report that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth issued a spoken command in September to strike the boat. Democratic lawmakers have said the allegations, initially disclosed recently, could amount to a violation of international law, and GOP members have also voiced their apprehensions about the lawfulness of the strike on September 2nd. The Congressional military oversight panels have initiated inquiries into the recent series of US armed engagements on vessels in the Caribbean region and Pacific waters. âThe Defense Secretary authorised the naval commander to execute these kinetic strikes,â said Leavitt. âAdm Bradley worked well within his mandate and the legal framework, overseeing the operation to guarantee the vessel was neutralized and the danger to the United States was removed.â In her comments to reporters, Leavitt did not dispute the report that there were survivors after the initial attack. Her justification came following former President Donald Trump a day earlier remarked he âwouldnât have wanted that â not a follow-up attackâ when questioned about the incident. Growing Legislative Concern and Internal Support Late on Monday, Hegseth posted: âThe Admiral is an American hero, a consummate professional, and has my full and complete backing. I stand by him and the battlefield judgments he has made â on the September 2nd operation and all others since.â A thirty days after the strike, Bradley was promoted from commander of JSOC to commander of US Special Operations Command. Anxiety over the governmentâs armed actions against suspected narcotics-trafficking boats has been building in Congress, but details of this follow-on strike stunned many legislators from both parties and sparked serious questions about the legality of the attacks 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 news story was accurate, and some GOP senators were doubtful. Nevertheless, they stated the reported targeting of individuals of an first missile strike posed serious concerns and merited further scrutiny. Administration and Military Leaders Affirm Position The administration weighed in after the president on the weekend vigorously supported Hegseth. âPete said he did not order the death of those individuals,â Trump stated. He added, âAnd I trust him.â Leavitt noted Hegseth had conversed with members of Congress who may have voiced some worries about the allegations over the past few days. General Dan Caine, the head of the joint chiefs of staff, also communicated over the weekend period with the bipartisan leaders leading the Congressional military committees. He restated âhis faith in the seasoned officers at every levelâ, Caineâs spokesperson said in a release. The release further noted that the call centered on âaddressing the purpose and lawfulness of operations to disrupt illicit trafficking networks which endanger the safety and stability of the Americasâ. Congressional Figures React and Pledge Probe The Senate majority leader, John Thune, on Monday broadly defended the missions, repeating the administration position that they were necessary to stem the influx of illicit drugs into the US. Thune stated the panels in the legislature would look into what occurred. âI donât think you want to draw any conclusions or deductions until you have all the facts,â he said of the September 2nd strike. âWeâll see where they lead.â After the report, Hegseth wrote on the end of the week that âfake news is producing more false, provocative, and disparaging coverage to undermine our remarkable warriors fighting to protect the homelandâ. âOur current operations in the Caribbean are legal under both American and global statutes, with every step in compliance with the law of armed conflict â and approved by the most qualified legal advisors, throughout the chain of command,â Hegseth stated. The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, labeled Hegseth a ânational embarrassmentâ over his reaction to detractors. Schumer demanded that Hegseth make public the footage of the attack and testify under oath about what transpired. The Republican senator for the state of Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate military panel, pledged that his committee's investigation would be âconducted thoroughly and by the bookâ. âWeâll discover the ground truth,â he added, noting that the ramifications of the allegation were âserious chargesâ. The 2 September engagement was one in a series executed by the US military in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific as Trump has directed the buildup of a fleet of warships near the Venezuelan coast, including the biggest US aircraft carrier. More than 80 people were killed in the series of attacks.
A high-ranking US Navy officer is set to provide a confidential update to congressional members monitoring the military this week, as they probe a US attack on a vessel in the Caribbean waters. The incident, which reportedly targeted a craft transporting narcotics, reportedly included a second engagement that killed any survivors. Administration Defends Strikes as Defensive Measures The administration spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, on Monday asserted that the second strike was carried out âas a defensive actionâ and in accordance with regulations pertaining to armed conflict. Cross-party examination has increased over a report that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth issued a spoken command in September to strike the boat. Democratic lawmakers have said the allegations, initially disclosed recently, could amount to a violation of international law, and GOP members have also voiced their apprehensions about the lawfulness of the strike on September 2nd. The Congressional military oversight panels have initiated inquiries into the recent series of US armed engagements on vessels in the Caribbean region and Pacific waters. âThe Defense Secretary authorised the naval commander to execute these kinetic strikes,â said Leavitt. âAdm Bradley worked well within his mandate and the legal framework, overseeing the operation to guarantee the vessel was neutralized and the danger to the United States was removed.â In her comments to reporters, Leavitt did not dispute the report that there were survivors after the initial attack. Her justification came following former President Donald Trump a day earlier remarked he âwouldnât have wanted that â not a follow-up attackâ when questioned about the incident. Growing Legislative Concern and Internal Support Late on Monday, Hegseth posted: âThe Admiral is an American hero, a consummate professional, and has my full and complete backing. I stand by him and the battlefield judgments he has made â on the September 2nd operation and all others since.â A thirty days after the strike, Bradley was promoted from commander of JSOC to commander of US Special Operations Command. Anxiety over the governmentâs armed actions against suspected narcotics-trafficking boats has been building in Congress, but details of this follow-on strike stunned many legislators from both parties and sparked serious questions about the legality of the attacks 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 news story was accurate, and some GOP senators were doubtful. Nevertheless, they stated the reported targeting of individuals of an first missile strike posed serious concerns and merited further scrutiny. Administration and Military Leaders Affirm Position The administration weighed in after the president on the weekend vigorously supported Hegseth. âPete said he did not order the death of those individuals,â Trump stated. He added, âAnd I trust him.â Leavitt noted Hegseth had conversed with members of Congress who may have voiced some worries about the allegations over the past few days. General Dan Caine, the head of the joint chiefs of staff, also communicated over the weekend period with the bipartisan leaders leading the Congressional military committees. He restated âhis faith in the seasoned officers at every levelâ, Caineâs spokesperson said in a release. The release further noted that the call centered on âaddressing the purpose and lawfulness of operations to disrupt illicit trafficking networks which endanger the safety and stability of the Americasâ. Congressional Figures React and Pledge Probe The Senate majority leader, John Thune, on Monday broadly defended the missions, repeating the administration position that they were necessary to stem the influx of illicit drugs into the US. Thune stated the panels in the legislature would look into what occurred. âI donât think you want to draw any conclusions or deductions until you have all the facts,â he said of the September 2nd strike. âWeâll see where they lead.â After the report, Hegseth wrote on the end of the week that âfake news is producing more false, provocative, and disparaging coverage to undermine our remarkable warriors fighting to protect the homelandâ. âOur current operations in the Caribbean are legal under both American and global statutes, with every step in compliance with the law of armed conflict â and approved by the most qualified legal advisors, throughout the chain of command,â Hegseth stated. The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, labeled Hegseth a ânational embarrassmentâ over his reaction to detractors. Schumer demanded that Hegseth make public the footage of the attack and testify under oath about what transpired. The Republican senator for the state of Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate military panel, pledged that his committee's investigation would be âconducted thoroughly and by the bookâ. âWeâll discover the ground truth,â he added, noting that the ramifications of the allegation were âserious chargesâ. The 2 September engagement was one in a series executed by the US military in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific as Trump has directed the buildup of a fleet of warships near the Venezuelan coast, including the biggest US aircraft carrier. More than 80 people were killed in the series of attacks.