Report: Survivors targeted by Trump order on 'narco boat' were blown apart following Hegseth's command to 'kill everybody'

Reports indicate that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly instructed U.S. military forces to leave no survivors during a series of strikes launched under former President Donald Trump targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels. Over the past three months, these operations have reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 80 individuals.

On September 2, U.S. forces fired a missile at a vessel in the Caribbean carrying 11 suspected drug traffickers. When two survivors appeared from the wreckage, a Special Operations commander overseeing the mission allegedly carried out a second strike to comply with Hegseths directive to kill everybody, according to officials cited by The Washington Post. The two men were reportedly killed in the water.

The allegations have drawn intense scrutiny from international investigators and lawmakers, who suggest the Trump administrations campaign may constitute illegal extrajudicial killings. Experts in the law of war told The Independent that the actions could be classified as murder and war crimes.

A Pentagon spokesperson told The Independent that the Department of Defense has no response and declined further comment. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell called the reporting completely false and praised ongoing counter-narcotics operations as highly successful.

Hegseth, in a statement posted on X, described the reports as fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory, but did not deny the specifics of the attacks. He emphasized that the strikes are intended as lethal, kinetic strikes aimed at stopping drug trafficking and eliminating narcotics operatives. He added that the operations are in compliance with U.S. and international law and approved through legal channels within the military hierarchy.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration informed Congress that the U.S. is engaged in an armed conflict with drug cartels, labeling them unlawful combatants and nonstate armed groups. Officials described these groups as posing an armed threat to the United States, framing the confrontations as a noninternational armed conflict.

Despite this classification, over a dozen subsequent strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific have killed over 80 people, with lawmakers and civil rights groups noting the lack of publicly disclosed evidence or legal justification. A new Department of Justice memo asserts that military personnel involved in the attacks would not face criminal charges, though legal experts question whether this shields them from liability.

Critics argue that the alleged traffickers did not present an immediate threat to the United States and that premeditated killings outside of armed conflict meet the legal definition of murder. Brian Finucane of the International Crisis Group stated that the administration has not established that the strikes qualify as lawful under the law of war.

On social media, Trump posted footage of the September 2 missile strike, describing the victims as members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which his administration designated as a foreign terrorist organization. He warned others against attempting to transport drugs into the U.S., describing the attack as a deterrent.

Admiral Frank M. Mitch Bradley, overseeing the strike from Fort Bragg, reportedly justified a second attack on survivors, citing the potential risk they could call other traffickers. Bradley, then leading the Joint Special Operations Command, coordinated the classified operation, which included intelligence support from SEAL Team 6.

Members of Congress were briefed on the operations but reportedly received no credible justification for the extrajudicial attacks. Rep. Gregory Meeks described the legal rationale as dubious and aimed at bypassing congressional authority over war powers. Lawmakers have demanded a vote to halt further strikes, criticizing the administration for deploying substantial military force for counter-narcotics missions, which they argue is disproportionate to the stated objectives.

Analysis of Alleged Extrajudicial Strikes and Legal Implications

The recent revelations surrounding U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean raise significant legal and ethical questions. Reports suggest that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instructed U.S. forces to eliminate all individuals involved in drug trafficking operations, regardless of whether they posed an immediate threat. These strikes, which have reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 80 individuals in the past three months, have drawn accusations of extrajudicial killings and potential war crimes. While the U.S. government has denied the allegations, claiming the operations were legally sanctioned and aimed at counter-narcotics, the lack of transparency regarding the legality of these actions remains a major concern.

Critics, including lawmakers and legal experts, question the justification of such lethal force in a non-war environment. The Trump administration's classification of drug cartels as "unlawful combatants" and the claim of an "armed conflict" with nonstate actors does little to address concerns about the legal framework for these strikes. The U.S. military's actions may not meet the criteria for lawful military operations under the laws of war, and the absence of clear evidence or legal justification further complicates the situation. As legal scholars point out, the deliberate killing of individuals who do not pose an immediate threat may qualify as murder, rather than a lawful military action.

Furthermore, the actions of key figures involved, such as Admiral Frank M. Bradley, who reportedly justified a second strike to prevent survivors from alerting other traffickers, highlight the complex ethical considerations surrounding these operations. The absence of credible justification for these killings has raised alarms in Congress, with some members demanding further investigation and a vote to halt future operations of this nature.

While the government maintains that these strikes are an essential part of counter-narcotics efforts, the broader implications of such actions—both legally and morally—are difficult to ignore. As scrutiny intensifies, it remains to be seen how the U.S. government will address the mounting concerns and whether any changes will be made to its approach to counter-narcotics operations in the future.

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• Survivors on ‘narco boat’ targeted by Trump order were blown apart after Hegseth verbal command to ‘kill everybody’: Report