US Senator Mark Kelly has expressed concerns that a recent strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, allegedly authorized by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, may amount to a war crime. The senator, who previously served as a Navy pilot for over two decades, pointed out that such actions would be a breach of international law.
Kelly's comments came after a Washington Post report claimed that Hegseth had ordered the double-tap strike on September 2, instructing his troops to "kill them all". Kelly stated that if the allegations are true, it would demonstrate a clear disregard for the rules of engagement and could have severe consequences. The senator emphasized that the US military should always adhere to the laws of armed conflict and obtain approval from military lawyers before taking any action.
Kelly's criticism of Hegseth's leadership is not new. In 2022, the senator publicly disagreed with Hegseth over his handling of a controversy known as "Signalgate", in which Hegseth allegedly lied about the origin of a Navy radio signal. Kelly accused Hegseth of being unqualified for the position and called on him to be removed from office.
The Secretary of Defense has denied the allegations, labeling them as "fake news" in a statement on X. However, Kelly remains unconvinced, stating that Hegseth's lack of experience makes him unfit for the role.
Kelly's comments came after a Washington Post report claimed that Hegseth had ordered the double-tap strike on September 2, instructing his troops to "kill them all". Kelly stated that if the allegations are true, it would demonstrate a clear disregard for the rules of engagement and could have severe consequences. The senator emphasized that the US military should always adhere to the laws of armed conflict and obtain approval from military lawyers before taking any action.
Kelly's criticism of Hegseth's leadership is not new. In 2022, the senator publicly disagreed with Hegseth over his handling of a controversy known as "Signalgate", in which Hegseth allegedly lied about the origin of a Navy radio signal. Kelly accused Hegseth of being unqualified for the position and called on him to be removed from office.
The Secretary of Defense has denied the allegations, labeling them as "fake news" in a statement on X. However, Kelly remains unconvinced, stating that Hegseth's lack of experience makes him unfit for the role.
First he's all about "kill them all" and now he's denying it like a total noob 
. Mark Kelly is right, bro, if those allegations are true that's straight-up war criminal stuff. I mean I get it, the guy has experience as a pilot, but leadership is a whole different ball game. Kelly's not being unreasonable either, he's just saying we gotta follow the rules of engagement and get approval from our lawyers first. Don't know what Hegseth's thinking, maybe he's just trying to get his 15 minutes of fame 
. Anyway, whoever is behind that strike needs to be held accountable, no exceptions 
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But I still think the senator has got a point. Someone needs to keep an eye on this bloke and make sure he's not flouting any laws 
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. And Kelly's experience as a Navy pilot is a big deal - he knows what it takes to follow orders and operate in the field, so for him to be speaking out against this is huge. I don't think it's necessarily about Hegseth being "unqualified" or whatever, but more like the fact that there needs to be accountability and checks in place when it comes to things like this. If we can't even trust our own military leaders to follow the rules of engagement, what's next? 
also gotta wonder why Kelly's comments aren't gettin more attention... shouldn't he be on X spoutin these thoughts to millions? instead he's just stuck in senate 
? Newsflash, Pete: just because you're in charge doesn't mean you can just make stuff up and expect everyone else to go along with it. 
. The fact that Hegseth is denying it without any evidence just makes him look like he's hiding something 
. This guy needs to be held accountable for his actions and Kelly's got the balls to call him out on it 
. If what Kelly is saying is true, it's a huge red flag. I mean, a double-tap strike? That sounds like something out of a bad war movie 
. And for Hegseth to allegedly tell his troops to "kill them all" without following proper protocol? That's just not right. It goes against everything we know about the laws of armed conflict and respect for human life 
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. I wish Kelly would keep pushing for transparency and accountability in our government. We need to hold our leaders accountable for their actions, especially when it comes to matters like war and national security 
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and I gotta say, it's not surprising. Mark's all about keeping our military in check and making sure we're following international law, which is super important. The double-tap thing does sound pretty aggressive, but you never know what's really going down behind closed doors. I'm just worried that if Kelly's right and Hegseth did indeed break some rules, it could get messy fast. And yeah, this isn't the first time Kelly's called out Hegseth - they've had a bit of a history, but I think Kelly's got a point about experience being key in the DoD. We need people who understand the weight of their decisions and are willing to do things by the book. Fingers crossed Kelly gets to the bottom of this! 
also kelly's been saying these things since 2022 and no one's taken him seriously yet... maybe he's just being dramatic 
hegseth's response was pretty underwhelming too, calling it fake news without even addressing the concerns... not exactly the best deflection tactic 
. If the guy can't even be trusted to tell the truth about something as mundane as a radio signal, how can we trust him with our national security? 
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. And Kelly's not being too harsh either, I think he's got a point about needing to follow the laws of armed conflict and getting approval from military lawyers first 
. It's not just about Hegseth, it's about making sure we're doing what's right in these situations