The House and Senate Armed Services Committees have opened investigations supported by lawmakers from both parties into U.S. military strikes against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. They cited a published report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for surviving crew members to be killed as part of a Sept. 2 attack.

The lawmakers said that if true, the allegations first reported by The Washington Post last week pose serious legal concerns. “This rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.

Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, when asked about a follow-up strike aimed at people no longer able to fight, said Congress does not have information on what happened. “Obviously, if that occurred, tha

See Full Page