Both the House and Senate have initiated formal inquiries regarding a reported second strike on a vessel allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean last September. This strike reportedly resulted in the deaths of survivors from an initial attack. According to a report by The Washington Post, which references sources with direct knowledge of the operation, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly issued a verbal order to eliminate everyone aboard a vessel suspected of carrying narcotics on September 2. This incident marks the first of nearly two dozen strikes on various vessels in the region since that date.
The Post’s investigation is grounded in interviews and accounts from seven individuals familiar with the September 2 strike and the broader military operation. After the initial strike revealed two survivors, it is reported that the commander overseeing the mission ordered a second strike with the intention of killing those survivors. As of now, NBC News has not independently verified the claims made by The Washington Post.
The top Republican and Democrat on the GOP-led Senate Armed Services Committee have acknowledged awareness of the reports. In a joint statement released on Friday, Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) stated, “The Committee has directed inquiries to the Department of Defense, and we will be conducting vigorous oversight to determine the facts related to these circumstances.”
Following the Senate's lead, the Republican-led House Armed Services Committee also released a statement on Saturday. Representatives Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and Adam Smith (D-Wash.) expressed their commitment to providing rigorous oversight of the Department of Defense’s military operations in the Caribbean. They emphasized the seriousness of the reports concerning follow-on strikes against vessels suspected of trafficking narcotics in the SOUTHCOM region, asserting that they are taking bipartisan steps to gather a comprehensive account of the operation in question.
The Pentagon has not immediately responded to requests for comments from NBC News regarding the committee statements or The Post’s findings. However, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told The Post that “this entire narrative is completely false.” He further asserted that ongoing operations aimed at dismantling narcoterrorism and protecting the homeland from dangerous drugs have been remarkably successful.
In a post on X on Friday evening, Secretary Hegseth clarified that the strikes were meant to be “lethal, kinetic strikes.” He stated, “The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people. Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization.” Hegseth also assured that current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law and have received approval from top military and civilian legal experts.
The statements from the committees come amid heightened pressure from the Trump administration on Venezuela, as President Trump considers military action against the country following nearly two dozen strikes on vessels in the region, resulting in at least 82 fatalities. Trump asserted on Saturday that Venezuela’s airspace should be regarded as “closed.” The strikes have sparked concerns among congressional members regarding the flow of information from administration officials.
Last month, Trump indicated that his administration would not seek congressional approval for targeting drug traffickers, remarking, “I think we’re just gonna kill people that are bringing drugs into our country.” He added ominously, “We’re going to kill them. They’re going to be, like, dead.”