The USA is said to have deliberately killed survivors

US attacks in the Caribbean

Serious allegations against Hegseth: Did he give the order to “kill everyone”?

It’s been almost three months since the first known US attack on an alleged drug boat, but now new details are coming to light. Once again they raise questions about the legality of the operation.

According to media reports, the attack by the US military on a boat in the Caribbean that was allegedly loaded with drugs at the beginning of September once again raises questions about possible violations of international law by the US. In the first known attack of this kind, there are said to have been survivors, as reported by CNN and the Washington Post, citing people familiar with the situation. The boat was then attacked again and the two men were killed.

According to the Washington Post report, they had clung to the smoldering wreckage, so they posed no threat. According to CNN, people informed about the situation expressed concern that the second strike may have violated international law. An expert told the broadcaster that they should have been rescued under current law. According to the US government, a total of eleven people were killed in the strike.

Both reports said that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously given the order to “kill everyone.” However, according to CNN, it is unclear whether he knew about the survivors before the second attack. According to The Washington Post, the second strike was ordered after the survivors were sighted to fulfill Hegseth’s order.

The newspaper also quotes experts who question the legality of the entire US operation against suspected drug smugglers. They therefore argue that the killings are not covered by international law. The Pentagon initially did not respond to a request from the German Press Agency about the media reports.

For weeks, the US military has been attacking boats carrying alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean and the Pacific. The ministry confirmed to the German Press Agency in mid-November that there had already been 20 attacks with around 80 deaths. The approach has met with international criticism, also because the legal basis for the US government’s actions is controversial. The United Nations called on the US government to show restraint.

What is explosive in this context is a video recently published by six Democrats in the US Congress who themselves have a military or intelligence background. They call on members of the US military not to follow illegal orders from the government of US President Donald Trump.

Senator Elissa Slotkin, who took part in the video, told ABC News that she and her colleagues had been approached by some young officers who, as part of military units in Latin America, were unsure whether they should carry out their orders. Asked whether Trump had given any illegal orders so far, Slotkin said: “I’m not aware of anything illegal, but there are certainly some legal maneuvers related to the attacks in the Caribbean and everything to do with Venezuela.”

The video sparked widespread anger from the Trump administration. In an initial reaction, the president accused the group of “insurrectionary behavior” and declared that this was punishable by death. He later qualified these statements. At the same time, the Pentagon announced an investigation into Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, who was also involved in the video. Among other things, it is being examined whether Kelly can be recalled to active service in order to stand trial before a military court.