Hegseth’s Strike Order: Narco-Terrorists?

Report claims Hegseth ordered no survivors in a strike on suspected narco-terrorists. Denials and calls for investigation follow, raising concerns about war crimes and unauthorized military action. Key: Hegseth, narco-terrorists, strike.

The Washington Message reported Friday that a Joint Unique Procedures Command commander got a second airstrike on a speedboat lugging 11 suspected Tren de Aragua narco-terrorists Sept. 2, after the descent on left 2 people clinging to the wreckage.

Hegseth himself denied the record hours after its Friday publication, composing on X: “Customarily, the fake information is providing more produced, inflammatory, and disparaging reporting to reject our incredible warriors combating to protect the homeland.

This screen grab from a video uploaded by US Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on his X account on November 6, 2025, shows what Hegseth states is a dangerous kinetic strike on a vessel operated by an assigned terrorist organization. United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s X Account/AFP by means of Getty Images

Trump’s Reaction to the Allegations

Head of state Trump claimed Sunday he did not think a record that Battle Secretary Pete Hegseth purchased that no survivors be left from a United States armed forces strike on a presumed drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean Sea this past September.

Congressional Response and Concerns

“Obviously, if that occurred, that would certainly be very significant and I concur that would be a prohibited act,” Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), a participant of your home Armed Services Board, informed CBS Information’ “Face the Nation” Sunday.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told the very same program that he will reestablish a resolution blocking the use of US armed forces force in the Caribbean Sea without congressional authorization– a step that Senate Republicans blocked Nov. 6.

This screen grab from a video published by US Protection Assistant Pete Hegseth on his X account on November 6, 2025, shows what Hegseth states is a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel run by a designated terrorist company. US Assistant of Protection Pete Hegseth’s X Account/AFP using Getty Images

Hegseth’s Defense and Justification

“As we have actually said from the get go, and in every declaration, these highly effective strikes are specifically planned to be ‘dangerous, kinetic strikes,'” he continued. “The proclaimed intent is to quit deadly drugs, damage narco-boats, and eliminate the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people.

“If that reporting holds true,” Kaine added of Hegseth’s order, “it’s a clear infraction of the DOD’s own laws of war, along with global legislations concerning the way you treat individuals who are in that scenario. And so this increases to the degree of a battle criminal offense if it holds true.”