• U.S. military conducted a controversial second strike on a Venezuelan drug boat, killing two survivors.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered the strike, prompting bipartisan calls for investigation.
• White House claims the strikes were legal, while critics label them potential war crimes.

The U.S. military's decision to conduct a second strike on a Venezuelan drug boat on September 2 has sparked significant controversy and debate over legality and military conduct. The initial strike on the vessel killed nine people, but after two survivors were spotted clinging to the wreckage, a follow-up strike ordered by Admiral Frank M. Bradley resulted in their deaths. The operation has raised serious questions about the legality of what critics are labeling a "double tap" strategy, defined as targeting the same site shortly after an attack to eliminate potential survivors, according to Reuters and BBC.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Defense Secretary Hegseth authorized the strikes, defending their legality by stating, "Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated." However, reports indicate that Hegseth had allegedly instructed military officials to "kill everybody" aboard the vessel, which has provoked bipartisan backlash and calls for investigations into potential war crimes, according to sources including the Hill and Al Jazeera.

The incident has led to scrutiny from both the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, with lawmakers seeking a full accounting of the operation and evidence regarding the legality of the strikes. Senator Mark Warner has indicated plans to meet with Admiral Bradley to discuss the operations, emphasizing the need to uncover the truth behind the orders given and executed, reports The Hill. There is also skepticism regarding the Trump administration's legal justification for the strikes, as experts have stated that the killing of individuals who are no longer a threat may constitute a war crime.

In defending the operations, Hegseth has labeled media reports as "fake news," asserting that the military actions are compliant with the law of armed conflict. The Trump administration refers to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as a designated terrorist group, arguing that members engaged in drug trafficking can be targeted under the rules of war, as highlighted in discussions by Reuters, BBC, and The Hill.

The ramifications of this military strategy come amid the Trump administration's significant military presence in the Caribbean, where over 80 individuals have reportedly been killed in operations claiming to target drug-trafficking networks. The legality of such operations remains contentious, as critics argue that the strikes risk violating international laws against extrajudicial killings. Experts in military law have described the decision to conduct a second strike as an act of "murder" under international law, highlighting the delicate ethical and legal balance military operations must navigate, as reported by The Hill and Al Jazeera.