The White House has confirmed that a senior U.S. Navy commander authorized a second strike on a suspected Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessel, an action now at the center of growing legal and political scrutiny in Washington.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Admiral Frank Bradley acted “well within his authority and the law” when he ordered the follow-up strike. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the operation, she said, but did not issue any directive to “kill everybody” on board, contradicting a Washington Post report.
According to media accounts, two individuals survived the initial explosion on 2 September and were clinging to the burning vessel when a second strike was conducted.
Lawmakers from both parties have voiced concerns and pledged robust congressional oversight.
Leavitt emphasized that groups designated by President Donald Trump as narco-terrorist organizations are lawful targets under the rules of armed conflict. However, she declined to confirm whether survivors remained after the first strike or whether the second attack intentionally targeted them.
Hegseth has strongly rejected accusations made in the Washington Post investigation, calling them “fabricated and inflammatory.” He praised Admiral Bradley as “an American hero,” saying he stands fully behind Bradley’s decisions during the 2 September mission and others.
Over recent weeks, the U.S. military has expanded operations in the Caribbean, carrying out multiple lethal strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in international waters off Venezuela and Colombia. More than 80 people have been killed since early September. The Trump administration argues that these missions are acts of self-defense intended to stop drug flows toward the United States.
The strikes have sharply escalated tensions with Venezuela. Trump has repeatedly signaled that he is considering deploying U.S. ground forces to the country.
The political fallout in Washington is also intensifying.
The Senate Armed Services Committee announced it will conduct “vigorous oversight” of the operation. Chairman Roger Wicker said lawmakers plan to question the admiral in charge and review audio and video recordings related to the mission.
The House Armed Services Committee has launched a similar bipartisan inquiry. Senior military leaders briefed both committees over the weekend on the intent and legality of U.S. counter-trafficking operations in the region.
Legal experts interviewed by the BBC questioned whether a second strike on alleged survivors could be legal under international humanitarian law. Individuals who survive an attack may be protected as shipwreck victims or as combatants rendered unable to fight. The Geneva Conventions prohibit targeting the wounded in non-international armed conflicts.
During the Obama administration, the U.S. also faced criticism over “double-tap” drone strikes that sometimes resulted in civilian deaths.
Venezuela’s National Assembly condemned the recent attacks, pledging a full investigation. Caracas accuses Washington of seeking to destabilize the region and overthrow the government.
In an interview with BBC Newsnight, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab said Trump’s accusations were driven by “envy” of Venezuela’s natural resources. He called for direct talks between the U.S. and Venezuela to reduce tensions.
Trump said on Sunday that he had briefly spoken with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last month, urging him to resign and leave the country with his family. Reports indicate that Maduro asked for amnesty for his top aides and to retain control of the military—conditions Trump refused.
U.S. officials have long accused Maduro of involvement in a so-called “Cartel of the Suns” made up of senior Venezuelan military and security figures allegedly tied to drug trafficking. Maduro denies all such allegations.
