🔗 Share this article US Admiral to Brief Congress as Cross-Party Scrutiny Grows Over Maritime Engagement A high-ranking American naval admiral is scheduled to provide a confidential briefing to congressional members overseeing the armed forces this week, as they probe a US attack on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea. The incident, which reportedly targeted a boat transporting narcotics, allegedly involved a second engagement that eliminated any survivors. White House Defends Strikes as Self-Defense The administration spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, on the start of the week asserted that the follow-on engagement was carried out “in self-defence” and in accordance with laws pertaining to military engagement. Bipartisan scrutiny has increased over a account that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order in last month to strike the vessel. Democratic lawmakers have argued the claims, first reported recently, could constitute a violation of international law, and GOP members have also expressed their concerns about the lawfulness of the strike on September 2nd. The Congressional armed services committees have opened inquiries into the recent series of US armed engagements on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific waters. “Secretary Hegseth authorised Adm [Frank M] Bradley to execute these military actions,” stated Leavitt. “The commander worked well within his authority and the law, overseeing the engagement to ensure the vessel was destroyed and the danger to the United States of America was eliminated.” In her comments to reporters, Leavitt did not challenge the report that there were survivors after the first attack. Her justification came after former President Donald Trump a day earlier said he “wouldn’t have wanted that – not a follow-up attack” when asked about the incident. Growing Legislative Concern and Internal Support Late on Monday, Hegseth wrote online: “Adm Mitch Bradley is an national hero, a true professional, and has my full and complete backing. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made – on the September 2nd operation and all others since.” A thirty days following the engagement, Bradley was elevated from commander of JSOC to commander of USSOCOM. Anxiety over the government’s military strikes against alleged narcotics-trafficking boats has been growing in Congress, but particulars of this follow-on strike shocked many lawmakers from both parties and generated serious inquiries about the lawfulness of the attacks and the broader policy in the region, particularly toward Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The lawmakers indicated they did not know whether the recent report was accurate, and some Republicans were doubtful. Still, they stated the reported attacking of survivors of an first rocket attack presented grave issues and merited additional investigation. White House and Pentagon Leaders Affirm Stance The administration commented after the commander-in-chief on Sunday vigorously defended Hegseth. “Secretary Hegseth said he did not command the killing of those two men,” Trump stated. He continued, “And I trust him.” Leavitt noted Hegseth had spoken with members of Congress who may have expressed some concerns about the reports over the weekend. General Dan Caine, the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, also communicated over the weekend with the two Republican and two Democratic lawmakers leading the Senate and House military committees. He restated “his faith in the seasoned commanders at every level”, Caine’s spokesperson stated in a statement. The release added that the conversation focused on “discussing the purpose and legality of operations to disrupt illicit trafficking networks which threaten the safety and stability of the western hemisphere”. Legislative Leaders Respond and Promise Probe The top Senate Republican, John Thune, on the week's start broadly defended the operations, echoing the White House line that they were essential to stop the flow of illicit drugs into the US. Thune stated the committees in Congress would look into what happened. “I don’t think you want to make any conclusions or deductions until you have complete information,” he said of the September 2nd strike. “We’ll see where they lead.” Following the report, Hegseth wrote on Friday that “misleading reporting is delivering more fabricated, provocative, and disparaging coverage to discredit our incredible warriors working to defend the nation”. “Our current operations in the region are lawful under both US and global statutes, with all actions in compliance with the rules of war – and sanctioned by the best legal advisors, up and down the chain of command,” Hegseth stated. The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, labeled Hegseth a “national embarrassment” over his reaction to detractors. Schumer called for that Hegseth release the footage of the attack and testify under penalty of perjury about what happened. The Republican senator for the state of Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the chair of the Senate armed services committee, pledged that his panel’s inquiry would be “conducted thoroughly and by the book”. “We’ll discover the facts,” he said, stating that the implications of the allegation were “serious charges”. The 2 September engagement was one in a series executed by the US military in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean as Trump has directed the buildup of a fleet of naval vessels near the Venezuelan coast, including the biggest US aircraft carrier. More than eighty individuals were fatally wounded in the series of attacks.
A high-ranking American naval admiral is scheduled to provide a confidential briefing to congressional members overseeing the armed forces this week, as they probe a US attack on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea. The incident, which reportedly targeted a boat transporting narcotics, allegedly involved a second engagement that eliminated any survivors. White House Defends Strikes as Self-Defense The administration spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, on the start of the week asserted that the follow-on engagement was carried out “in self-defence” and in accordance with laws pertaining to military engagement. Bipartisan scrutiny has increased over a account that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order in last month to strike the vessel. Democratic lawmakers have argued the claims, first reported recently, could constitute a violation of international law, and GOP members have also expressed their concerns about the lawfulness of the strike on September 2nd. The Congressional armed services committees have opened inquiries into the recent series of US armed engagements on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific waters. “Secretary Hegseth authorised Adm [Frank M] Bradley to execute these military actions,” stated Leavitt. “The commander worked well within his authority and the law, overseeing the engagement to ensure the vessel was destroyed and the danger to the United States of America was eliminated.” In her comments to reporters, Leavitt did not challenge the report that there were survivors after the first attack. Her justification came after former President Donald Trump a day earlier said he “wouldn’t have wanted that – not a follow-up attack” when asked about the incident. Growing Legislative Concern and Internal Support Late on Monday, Hegseth wrote online: “Adm Mitch Bradley is an national hero, a true professional, and has my full and complete backing. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made – on the September 2nd operation and all others since.” A thirty days following the engagement, Bradley was elevated from commander of JSOC to commander of USSOCOM. Anxiety over the government’s military strikes against alleged narcotics-trafficking boats has been growing in Congress, but particulars of this follow-on strike shocked many lawmakers from both parties and generated serious inquiries about the lawfulness of the attacks and the broader policy in the region, particularly toward Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The lawmakers indicated they did not know whether the recent report was accurate, and some Republicans were doubtful. Still, they stated the reported attacking of survivors of an first rocket attack presented grave issues and merited additional investigation. White House and Pentagon Leaders Affirm Stance The administration commented after the commander-in-chief on Sunday vigorously defended Hegseth. “Secretary Hegseth said he did not command the killing of those two men,” Trump stated. He continued, “And I trust him.” Leavitt noted Hegseth had spoken with members of Congress who may have expressed some concerns about the reports over the weekend. General Dan Caine, the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, also communicated over the weekend with the two Republican and two Democratic lawmakers leading the Senate and House military committees. He restated “his faith in the seasoned commanders at every level”, Caine’s spokesperson stated in a statement. The release added that the conversation focused on “discussing the purpose and legality of operations to disrupt illicit trafficking networks which threaten the safety and stability of the western hemisphere”. Legislative Leaders Respond and Promise Probe The top Senate Republican, John Thune, on the week's start broadly defended the operations, echoing the White House line that they were essential to stop the flow of illicit drugs into the US. Thune stated the committees in Congress would look into what happened. “I don’t think you want to make any conclusions or deductions until you have complete information,” he said of the September 2nd strike. “We’ll see where they lead.” Following the report, Hegseth wrote on Friday that “misleading reporting is delivering more fabricated, provocative, and disparaging coverage to discredit our incredible warriors working to defend the nation”. “Our current operations in the region are lawful under both US and global statutes, with all actions in compliance with the rules of war – and sanctioned by the best legal advisors, up and down the chain of command,” Hegseth stated. The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, labeled Hegseth a “national embarrassment” over his reaction to detractors. Schumer called for that Hegseth release the footage of the attack and testify under penalty of perjury about what happened. The Republican senator for the state of Mississippi, Roger Wicker, the chair of the Senate armed services committee, pledged that his panel’s inquiry would be “conducted thoroughly and by the book”. “We’ll discover the facts,” he said, stating that the implications of the allegation were “serious charges”. The 2 September engagement was one in a series executed by the US military in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean as Trump has directed the buildup of a fleet of naval vessels near the Venezuelan coast, including the biggest US aircraft carrier. More than eighty individuals were fatally wounded in the series of attacks.