Both chambers of Congress have launched investigations into reports of a second strike last September on a suspected narcotics vessel in the Caribbean, an attack that allegedly killed the two survivors of an earlier hit. The Washington Post, citing individuals with direct knowledge of the mission, reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal directive on September 2 to eliminate everyone aboard a boat believed to be transporting drugs. This was reportedly the first in nearly twenty similar actions carried out in the region afterward.
According to the Post, interviews with seven people familiar with the September 2 operation indicate that after the initial strike revealed two survivors, the commanding officer instructed forces to carry out a follow up strike intended to kill them. NBC News has not independently verified the Posts account.
Leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee, including Republican Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island, stated Friday that they are aware of the allegations and have requested information from the Department of Defense. They emphasized that the committee will conduct thorough oversight to establish what occurred.
The House Armed Services Committee issued a similar announcement on Saturday. Chair Mike Rogers of Alabama and ranking member Adam Smith of Washington said the committee is committed to examining U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and determining the full scope of the events in question. They noted that reports involving follow up strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats in the SOUTHCOM region are being treated with bipartisan concern.
The Pentagon did not immediately comment on the committees statements or the Posts reporting. However, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told the Post that the account is entirely untrue and described ongoing missions targeting narcoterrorism as successful.
Hegseth wrote on X Friday that the strikes were intended to be lethal and kinetic. He argued that the objective is to halt the flow of deadly narcotics, destroy drug smuggling vessels, and target individuals tied to designated terrorist organizations.
He further stated that current military operations in the Caribbean comply with both United States and international law, and that all actions have been approved by military and civilian legal authorities throughout the chain of command.
The congressional inquiries come as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Venezuela. Nearly two dozen documented strikes on vessels in the region have been carried out, resulting in at least 82 deaths, and President Donald Trump has publicly considered further military measures. On Saturday he declared that Venezuelas airspace should be treated as closed.
The operations have prompted concerns on Capitol Hill regarding limited communication from administration officials. Last month, Trump suggested he would not seek congressional authorization for actions targeting drug traffickers, stating that his administration intends to eliminate individuals responsible for transporting drugs into the United States.