The family of a Colombian fisherman, Alejandro Carranza, killed in a US strike in the Caribbean has filed a complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The petition alleges Carranza’s extrajudicial killing violated his human rights, and names US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as responsible, also claiming President Trump ratified his conduct. Since September, the US has conducted multiple strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats, and the petitioners seek compensation for Carranza’s family and an end to such killings. The IACHR is now involved and has expressed concerns about the US strikes.
Read More
A Colombian family has filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) alleging that Alejandro Carranza Medina was unlawfully killed in a US airstrike on September 15th. The complaint marks the first formal challenge to the Trump administration’s airstrikes against suspected drug boats, authorized under a novel legal interpretation. The petition, filed by a human rights lawyer, identifies US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as responsible and cites statements by President Trump ratifying the actions. A White House spokesperson responded by accusing media of supporting “foreign terrorists.”
Read More
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is facing scrutiny for a double-tap strike in the Caribbean that resulted in the death of survivors from an initial boat attack. Multiple legal experts and lawmakers suggest that Hegseth’s order to “kill everybody” could lead to investigations for war crimes or murder, as the Pentagon’s Law of War Manual prohibits targeting those who are incapacitated. The attacks, which have resulted in at least 83 civilian deaths, are considered extrajudicial killings, as the targets are suspected drug traffickers. Following the September 2 strike, a government source claimed Hegseth was turning military personnel into “murderers” while the Former JAGs Working Group condemned the actions as war crimes.
Read More
Pete Hegseth’s defense of strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats, following a *Washington Post* report alleging indiscriminate killings, has been met with a resounding chorus of skepticism and condemnation. His initial response, the now-ubiquitous “fake news” dismissal, immediately sets the tone, revealing a defensive posture rather than a clear denial of the facts presented. It’s a tactic that has become increasingly familiar, and increasingly stale, in the face of uncomfortable truths.
The accusations are serious: Hegseth and potentially other senior military leaders are being implicated in extrajudicial killings, with the *Washington Post* suggesting a pattern of violence against individuals accused of drug trafficking.… Continue reading
The article reports on a series of military strikes launched during the Trump administration targeting alleged drug-running boats, resulting in over 80 deaths. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly issued a verbal order to leave no survivors, leading to a second strike that killed two survivors of an initial attack. Legal experts and members of Congress have raised concerns, labeling the actions as potential extrajudicial killings and war crimes. While the Department of Defense declined to comment, the administration maintains the strikes are legal, targeting “narco-terrorists” in an ongoing “armed conflict.”
Read More
A Washington Post report reveals Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered the killing of all survivors in a second strike on a vessel in the Caribbean, carried out by SEAL Team 6 after two survivors were spotted. This followed an initial strike that left no survivors on a vessel carrying narcotics. Following the incident, protocols were altered to prioritize rescuing survivors. Since September, U.S. forces have downed at least 22 vessels, resulting in a minimum of 83 fatalities, sparking tensions and accusations of a broader military strategy in the region.
Read More
As surveillance aircraft tracked the boat for an extended period, analysts at command centers grew increasingly certain of illicit activity. The extended observation provided mounting evidence suggesting the individuals on board were involved in drug trafficking. This conclusion was drawn based on the length of time the boat was monitored. The increased confidence of the analysts was a direct result of the prolonged surveillance operation.
Read More
The Trump administration, under alleged orders from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to leave no survivors, launched over a dozen strikes on suspected drug-running vessels, resulting in over 80 deaths. A specific incident involved a missile strike in the Caribbean, where two survivors of the initial attack were reportedly killed by a second strike on orders to eliminate all witnesses. These actions have drawn intense scrutiny, with legal experts labeling them as potential war crimes and extrajudicial killings due to the lack of legal justification and the alleged targeting of individuals posing no imminent threat. Despite this scrutiny, the administration has stated that they are engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels and the Department of Justice claims military personnel won’t face criminal prosecution.
Read More
US Southern Command announced on Sunday its 21st strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was engaged in narcotics smuggling along a known trafficking route. This latest strike brings the total number of individuals killed in these operations to 83. The campaign, intended to disrupt drug flow into the US, has faced criticism, with some allies like the UK and Colombia halting intelligence sharing over concerns of legality.
Read More
Pentagon says it struck another suspected drug boat in Pacific, killing three, and the immediate reaction, it seems, is a mix of outrage and disbelief. The very notion of taking a life based on mere suspicion is deeply unsettling. The term “suspected” throws everything into question, raising valid points about due process and the right to a fair trial. The complete absence of evidence, of definitive proof of wrongdoing, seems to be a major concern, and rightly so. Many are asking if there are other ways to handle these suspected drug smugglers, such as sending out boats to verify the contents of the boat.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood