Pentagon chief under pressure to resign over Caribbean 'war crimes'
Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of War, is under mounting pressure as war crimes in the American military campaign in the Caribbean and a damning inspector general report on his handling of classified intelligence plunge the Pentagon into crisis.
Lawmakers from both parties renewed calls for Hegseth’s resignation after reports emerged that survivors of a September Caribbean boat strike were deliberately killed in a “double-tap” attack.
The Caribbean strikes targeted vessels accused of operating for drug cartels in Venezuela and Colombia. The airstrikes have so far resulted in multiple fatalities, including four in the latest strike announced Thursday.
The administration of President Donald Trump has justified the assaults as part of an armed conflict against designated terrorist organizations. However, rights groups say there is no public evidence that supports these claims, and legal experts question whether the strikes can be conducted without congressional authorization.
Hegseth defended the operations at a cabinet meeting this week, saying the military has “only just begun striking narco-boats and putting narco-terrorists at the bottom of the ocean,” while acknowledging a temporary pause due to difficulty locating targets.
The defense chief’s tenure has also been marked by internal turmoil, with Pentagon officials describing a chaotic environment of leaks and infighting among Hegseth’s aides, including purges of top advisers.
A report released Thursday by the Pentagon inspector general found that Hegseth violated the US Department of War's policies by sharing sensitive details about airstrikes in Yemen via the Signal messaging app hours before missions were executed, potentially endangering US personnel.
These issues have raised serious questions about Hegseth's ability to manage the department effectively.
Despite mounting concerns and calls for resignation from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, Hegseth continues to enjoy public support from Trump.
Nonetheless, lawmakers have warned that continued strikes on foreign vessels without clear authorization could constitute violations of US and international law.
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