A top US Navy admiral gave the green light for a second strike on a Venezuelan drug smuggling ship on 2 September, the White House confirmed. The follow-up attack, dubbed a “double tap,” reportedly hit survivors still clinging to the burning wreck after the first blast. The controversial move has sparked fierce bipartisan backlash over its legality and morality.
White House Backs Admiral Amid Backlash
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the operation, saying Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the strikes. She slammed reports claiming the order was to “kill everybody,” adding: “Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law” when ordering the second hit.
This strike is just one of many US military actions targeting drug shipments in the Caribbean since early September. Official figures say more than 80 people have died in similar raids, though details on those targeted remain murky. The US usually releases grainy footage but little on who’s aboard.
Bipartisan Outcry Demands Investigation
The Washington Post revealed that two survivors of the initial strike were killed in the second, sparking fresh ethical and legal questions. Politicians from both sides want answers.
- Republican Senator Roger Wicker, head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, promised a full probe. “We want to interview the admiral and review all audio and video,” he said.
- The House Armed Services Committee is leading a bipartisan investigation to get to the bottom of what happened.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman briefed Congress last weekend on the “intent and legality” of US military strikes against drug traffickers.
Legal Experts Slam ‘Double Tap’ Strike
International law experts told the BBC the second strike may breach the Geneva Conventions if it targeted survivors, who are protected as shipwrecked or hors de combat. The US labels these strikes as part of a non-international armed conflict but is still responsible for helping the wounded.
The “double tap” tactic—striking a target twice in quick succession—has faced criticism before, especially during Obama-era drone strikes that caused civilian casualties.
Defence Secretary Hegseth called media reports on the strike “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory,” praising Admiral Bradley as “an American hero.”
Venezuela Condemns Strikes, Demands Probe
Venezuela slammed the US attacks and vowed a “rigorous and thorough investigation.” Officials accuse Washington of trying to destabilise the country.
Attorney General Tarek William Saab told BBC Newsnight the US hostility stems from “great envy” over Venezuela’s rich resources. He called for direct talks to ease tensions.
Ties have further frayed since former President Trump urged Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to step down last month, threatening to shut Venezuelan airspace. Maduro rejected Trump’s offer of safe passage, amnesty, and military control after resignation.
The US accuses Maduro of leading the “Cartel of the Suns,” a drug trafficking ring involving senior military figures—charges Maduro denies. This explosive dispute highlights the thorny legal and geopolitical issues of US-Caribbean military operations.
Congressional investigations are now underway as the world watches this high-stakes showdown unfold.
