This is surely a war crime, on a par with atrocities committed by the Russian army in Ukraine. No members of these boat crews are “combatants” in the technical sense, there is no state of war, and disarmed and helpless survivors cannot be deliberately killed under international law and common morality. This action is roughly equivalent to executing prisoners after hostilities have ceased. Hegseth, commanders, and local officers should be charged. The order attributed to Hegseth was surely an illegal order and should not have been obeyed. Hegseth must be dismissed and the Department of Defense must recommit itself to conforming to international law. We the people are responsible for the actions of our government and this lawlessness must be condemned. Congress, you must act.

Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/28/hegseth-kill-them-all-survivors-boat-strike/