US authorised second deadly Venezuela boat strike, White House says

The strikes, authorised by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, have raised fresh legality questions - but the White House says laws have been followed.

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The "double tap" strike on 2 September has drawn bipartisan scrutiny among US lawmakers. The Washington Post recently reported that two people survived the first blast and were still clinging to the burning vessel when they were killed, raising fresh legality questions.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth authorised the strikes but did not give an order to "kill everybody", as the report said.

"Admiral (Frank) Bradley worked well within his authority and the law" in ordering the additional strike, Leavitt said.

More than 80 people have been killed in a number of similar strikes in the Caribbean Sea since early September. Each announcement from US officials is usually accompanied by grainy video, but no evidence of the alleged drug trafficking, and few details on who or what was on board each vessel.