There’s been a lot of problems recently getting people to read the UCMJ. The people that survived the attack and were no longer a threat now have protected status. If possible, they should have been picked up and given POW status. This is a Geneva Convention law. The U.S. is a signatory.

Exactly 💯. They killed prisoners of war.

And besides, if they did that, trumpy would just pardon them for $50 million apiece

CORRECT. And interdicting the boat, capturing the low-level workers and getting information from them could provide a path to getting the ACTUAL drug dealers.

But that wouldn't make Pete Hegseth feel all manly.

I’m sure the drug dealers were safe ashore. They capture and threaten to kill poor people’s family members if they don’t drug run. So, chances are these were innocent victims given no option.

All the evidence was conveniently destroyed too, so it murder.
With all our ships etc in the area, why couldn't we have just stopped the boat and arrested them and tried them in a court of law?