People who are treading water after escaping a sinking bombed out boat are unlikely to pose any kind of threat. In fact, rescuing these folks, rather than murdering them, would allow the military to conduct more thorough investigations of the drug trade they are supposed to be trying to stop.

There is no nexus to an armed conflict, so the murders are not war crimes. But the killings may yet amount to *another* atrocity crime:

As US strikes on fishing boats grow more widespread and systematic, there is a growing case these killings amount to murder, as a crime against humanity.

Hegseth has turned seal team 6 into murderers also. They darn well should have known what they were being ordered to do was illegal.

Venezuela has ratified the Rome Statute, allowing for possible ICC jurisdiction over US perpetrators.

(yet another reason the Trump admin is desperate to destroy the international criminal court)

It is good to care about war crimes! We should care more. But remember they are just one category of atrocity.

Anyway, under any legal regime, these are manifestly unlawful orders, creating a duty to disobey.

Those following these orders risk criminal prosecution. As do those issuing these orders.