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Trump denies report of second strike in Caribbean anti-drug operation
(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump on Sunday dismissed reports that a military commander ordered a second strike to kill survivors following a September 2 anti-drug operation in the Caribbean.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump questioned the accuracy of the report, stating, "I don't know that that happened."
He defended the Defense Secretary, saying, "Pete said that didn't happen. I have great confidence (in him)...Pete said he did not order the death of those two men."
Trump characterized the initial strike as "very lethal" and "fine," indicating that a follow-up attack was unnecessary. "We'll look into it," he added.
According to media reports, which the US administration denied, a commander allegedly ordered a second strike to eliminate two survivors from the first attack, reportedly to comply with a directive to kill everyone on board.
Regarding the broader US campaign against drug-smuggling vessels, Trump expressed "very little" concern about the operations. He defended the actions by claiming that each boat is "responsible for killing 25,000 Americans" and noted that the quantity of drugs arriving by sea is now "infinitesimal" compared to several months ago.
A US senator commented that the incident could constitute a war crime. Speaking to media outlets, the senator argued that even if one accepts the administration's premise that the US is in an "armed conflict" with drug gangs, killing survivors would still be considered a war crime.
He added that, if the legal justification is incorrect, the incident could amount to "plain murder," and stressed that the defense secretary "should be held accountable" for such orders.
The Pentagon rejected the allegations, stating that the report's "entire narrative was false," while the Homeland Security Secretary also dismissed the claims. Lawmakers from both parties voiced support for a congressional investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, a Republican representative expressed doubt that the Defense Secretary would issue such an order, though he called the report "a big concern." Both the House and Senate armed services committees are currently examining the event, which was part of a broader campaign since September that has involved at least 21 strikes against suspected drug-trafficking boats, resulting in at least 83 deaths.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump questioned the accuracy of the report, stating, "I don't know that that happened."
He defended the Defense Secretary, saying, "Pete said that didn't happen. I have great confidence (in him)...Pete said he did not order the death of those two men."
Trump characterized the initial strike as "very lethal" and "fine," indicating that a follow-up attack was unnecessary. "We'll look into it," he added.
According to media reports, which the US administration denied, a commander allegedly ordered a second strike to eliminate two survivors from the first attack, reportedly to comply with a directive to kill everyone on board.
Regarding the broader US campaign against drug-smuggling vessels, Trump expressed "very little" concern about the operations. He defended the actions by claiming that each boat is "responsible for killing 25,000 Americans" and noted that the quantity of drugs arriving by sea is now "infinitesimal" compared to several months ago.
A US senator commented that the incident could constitute a war crime. Speaking to media outlets, the senator argued that even if one accepts the administration's premise that the US is in an "armed conflict" with drug gangs, killing survivors would still be considered a war crime.
He added that, if the legal justification is incorrect, the incident could amount to "plain murder," and stressed that the defense secretary "should be held accountable" for such orders.
The Pentagon rejected the allegations, stating that the report's "entire narrative was false," while the Homeland Security Secretary also dismissed the claims. Lawmakers from both parties voiced support for a congressional investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, a Republican representative expressed doubt that the Defense Secretary would issue such an order, though he called the report "a big concern." Both the House and Senate armed services committees are currently examining the event, which was part of a broader campaign since September that has involved at least 21 strikes against suspected drug-trafficking boats, resulting in at least 83 deaths.
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