Sen. Mark Kelly is raising alarms over actions taken by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth involving operations against narco-terrorist groups. Kelly suggested that the incident may carry legal consequences and publicly questioned whether the operation could amount to a war crime.
During comments on the situation, Kelly said he had “serious concerns,” adding, “We are not Russia. We are not Iraq.” He further stated that he was “really troubled” by the circumstances and argued that the U.S. military should not follow directives that he believes fall outside lawful conduct.
Kelly’s remarks came in response to Hegseth’s role in authorizing action against narco-terrorists who were allegedly planning attacks that could have resulted in American casualties. Supporters of the operation argue that the actions were necessary to prevent imminent threats against U.S. citizens.
The dispute marks another escalation in tensions between congressional Democrats and the Trump administration’s national-security approach, with Kelly suggesting that military personnel should not comply with directives he deems unlawful. Critics of Kelly have accused him of undermining the chain of command and mischaracterizing Hegseth’s decisions.
As of now, no formal investigation has been announced, and the Department of Defense has not issued a detailed public statement on Kelly’s accusations.
