The White House says US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorised a deadly September strike on a suspected Venezuelan drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean, confirming he empowered Admiral Frank Bradley to carry out the operation. Officials insist the attack was lawful and framed it as an act of self defence.

Reports that Hegseth allegedly gave a verbal order to “kill everybody” on board and that a follow-up strike targeted survivors have sparked outrage in Washington. Legal experts and lawmakers say a second strike on people in the water could qualify as murder or a war crime and are demanding formal investigations.