Hegseth accused of war crimes over alleged targeting of survivors following Caribbean boat attack

The Trump administration has been targeting drug boats in the Caribbean in an attempt to stop drugs flowing into the US. The Washington Post reported that after one of those strikes, on September 2, two men were clinging to a burning ship when they were struck by a missile.

The outlet reported that "two people with direct knowledge of the operation" said that Hegseth's "order was to kill everybody." That resulted in a follow-up missile targeting the blaze, which killed the two survivors. The order was given ahead of the attack and the second strike was ordered "to comply with Hegseth's instructions."

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen told CBS' Face the Nation "if that reporting is true, it's a clear violation of the DOD's own laws of war, as well as international laws about the way you treat people who are in that circumstance. And so this rises to the level of a war crime if it's true."

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, who has recently come under fire for participating in a video, along with five other lawmakers, telling US troops not to follow "illegal orders," said that the alleged order is "clearly not lawful."

"Pete Hegseth is a war criminal and should be fired immediately," said Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey.

Tim Kaine of Virginia said that in the wake of the reporting, he intends to refile his resolution that congress must approve any strike. He said that he plans to reintroduce his war powers resolution, drafted with California's Adam Schiff in October, to block military force without congressional approval.

"The circumstances have changed in the months since we had that vote. In each of these instances, we were able to get two Republicans to vote together with Democrats," Kaine said.

"We think the escalating pace and some of the recent revelations, so, for example, the recent revelation about the 'kill everyone' order apparently dictated by Secretary Hegseth. We do believe that we will get more support for these motions when they are refiled."

Hegseth defended the actions of the military, but Trump said that he would oppose a strike to kill survivors. "I don't know anything about it," Trump said Sunday. He said that Hegseth said "he did not say that. And I believe him."

As to whether he would have authorized a strike, Trump said "But no, I wouldn't have wanted that. Not a second strike. The first strike was very lethal. It was fine, and if there were two people around, but Pete said that didn't happen. I have great confidence."

“As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland,” Hegseth said in a post denying the report.

“As we’ve said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be ‘lethal, kinetic strikes.’ 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,” he continued.