The White House on Monday defended U.S. strikes on a Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessel in September, saying the operation was lawful and authorized by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The strikes, which reportedly targeted survivors of the initial attack, have drawn criticism from legal experts and lawmakers questioning their legality under international law.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that Admiral Frank Bradley, who carried out the strikes on September 2, acted within his authority and in accordance with the law of armed conflict. Leavitt said the action was in self-defense, conducted in international waters, and aimed at eliminating a threat to the United States. The administration has designated the group involved as a foreign terrorist organization.
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Reports by The Washington Post suggested that a second strike was ordered to kill survivors, allegedly following Hegseth’s instructions. President Donald Trump, however, said he would not have approved the second strike and claimed Hegseth denied giving such an order. Hegseth defended Bradley, calling him “an American hero” and pledging full support for his actions.
Legal experts have raised concerns over the operation, noting that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on incapacitated combatants. George Washington University law professor Laura Dickinson stated that most legal scholars do not consider the vessel an armed conflict scenario, making any lethal action against survivors potentially a war crime. The JAGs Working Group, a body of former military lawyers, called the order “patently illegal” and said service members have a duty to refuse such commands.
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The Trump administration continues to explore options against Venezuela, including military intervention, citing Maduro’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking. Trump confirmed a conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro but declined to provide details. U.S. forces have conducted at least 19 strikes against suspected drug vessels in the region since September, killing at least 76 people, as part of a broader campaign against narcotics trafficking.