Alleged War Crime in Caribbean Waters Sparks Outcry
A senior US senator and former Navy pilot has publicly declared that a reported second military strike on a disabled vessel in the Caribbean, aimed at survivors in the water, constitutes a war crime. Senator Mark Kelly levelled the serious allegation following detailed reports from CNN and The Washington Post concerning a 2nd September operation.
The Details of the Controversial Strike
According to the reports, an initial strike by US Navy SEALs disabled a boat that the Trump administration claims was piloted by narco-terrorists. The attack left an unknown number of individuals dead, with others stranded in the water, clinging to the wreckage.
In a deeply controversial move, a subsequent order was given for a second strike on the same craft. This 'double-tap' attack, as it is known, is reported to have been carried out under an order from Secretary Pete Hegseth to "kill everybody", according to a US official with direct knowledge. Two survivors of the initial strike are believed to have been killed in this follow-up action.
Senator Kelly, drawing on his own combat experience from the Gulf War, was unequivocal in his assessment. He told CNN, "Going after survivors in the water; that is clearly not lawful. If what has been reported is accurate, I’ve got serious concerns." When asked directly if the action was a war crime, he affirmed that it would cross that legal line.
Political Fallout and Broader Military Campaign
The incident has ignited a political firestorm in Washington. Kelly was one of several Democratic veterans in Congress who recently released a video urging military members to refuse illegal orders, a move that prompted a fierce backlash from Donald Trump and his supporters.
The strike is part of a wider and escalating US military campaign against small boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia. The Trump administration insists these vessels are carrying dangerous drugs bound for the United States. To date, at least 80 people are confirmed dead as a result of these operations.
Other experts and politicians have echoed Senator Kelly's grave concerns. A group of former military lawyers stated that any order forbidding the taking of prisoners is illegal under the Geneva Convention. Senator Tim Kaine also stated on CBS that the strike "rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true."
In response, the Senate Armed Services Committee, led by Republicans, has announced it will conduct vigorous oversight and has directed inquiries to the Department of Defense to determine the facts. Concurrently, the US has built up significant military assets in the region, leading to fears of larger operations within Venezuela itself, whose leader, Nicolás Maduro, has been designated by the Trump administration as the head of a drug cartel.
