Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) issued a statement Saturday vowing to conduct “vigorous oversight” on Caribbean strikes after a report surfaced that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the U.S. military to “kill everybody” aboard an alleged drug vessel.
“The Committee is aware of recent news reports — and the Department of Defense’s initial response — regarding alleged follow-on strikes on suspected narcotics vessels in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility,” the senators wrote in a joint statement.
“The Committee has directed inquires to the Department, and we will be conducting vigorous oversight to determine the facts related to the circumstances,” they added.
The Washington Post, citing sources familiar with the order, reported Friday that Hegseth gave a spoken directive early in the operation to those overseeing the strikes: “Kill everybody.” The first mission in September reportedly required two strikes after the first failed to kill all on board.
Hegseth blasted the reporting as “fake news” and defended the Trump administration’s maneuvers against drug trafficking.