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LetMyPeopleVote

(178,495 posts)
Thu Mar 5, 2026, 08:36 PM Thursday

Hegseth's 'quiet death' strike may constitute a war crime: analysis

Hegseth is bragging about committing a war crime. Hegseth sank an unarmed ship in international waters. That is a war crime

Hegseth's 'quiet death' strike may constitute a war crime: analysis

#TuckFrump (@realtuckfrumper.bsky.social) 2026-03-06T00:50:20.000Z

https://www.rawstory.com/pete-hegseth-2675597881/

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's latest "quiet death" strike may amount to a war crime, according to one analysis.

This week, it was revealed that the U.S. torpedoed an Iranian warship called the "IRIS Dena" off the coast of Sri Lanka while it was returning home from planned military exercises with India. The torpedo killed more than 80 Iranian soldiers. It was the first time in 80 years that the U.S. had sunk an enemy warship in international waters, according to reports, and sparked outrage from Iranian officials like foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who described it as an "atrocity."

In the wake of the operation, Hegseth described it as "quiet death" during his public remarks on Wednesday, Time Magazine reported.

Mary Trump, a psychologist and author, argued in a new Substack essay that Hegseth's comments revealed the "reckless and deeply troubling mentality guiding the Trump regime’s military decisions."

"Legal experts have noted that sinking a ship in international waters, particularly one reportedly unarmed and returning from a training exercise, could constitute a war crime under international law," she wrote.

Hegseth fired all of the senior JAG officers because he wanted to have free hand to conduct his attacks without having those darn lawyers telling him that he is breaking international law
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Hegseth's 'quiet death' strike may constitute a war crime: analysis (Original Post) LetMyPeopleVote Thursday OP
No doubt at all, the actions of a psychopath. Blues Heron Thursday #1
Hogsbreath UpInArms Thursday #2
An "Unarmed war ship"?? Disaffected Thursday #3
Yeah, unarmed Tasmanian Devil Thursday #9
I'm still not clear on: Disaffected Yesterday #16
If only they had the same intel access as Tasmanian Devil does Ruby the Liberal 17 hrs ago #18
That is a somewhat different topic. Disaffected 15 hrs ago #19
Milan 2026 did not require the ships to not carry any ammunition hardluck 14 hrs ago #20
can't be a war crime. it is not a war....they keep saying nt msongs Thursday #4
I understand that you are being facetious but the discussion of whether or not this is a war makes me nuts. TomSlick Thursday #11
Also war crimes for those Venezuela fishing boats?? vapor2 Thursday #5
Apparently the United States bombed the Little Girls School, too. mackdaddy Thursday #6
He didn't fire it purr-rat beauty Thursday #7
Lock him up!!! calimary Thursday #8
Not attempting to rescue the ship's sailors is likely another war crime Tasmanian Devil Thursday #10
That one is on the submarine captain, too. my Shipwack Thursday #14
If the ship truly was unarmed sarisataka Thursday #12
Surreal... thought crime Thursday #13
I'm Sure It Was A Manly Masculine Warfighter Warrior Attack. ColoringFool Thursday #15
Yes please Ruby the Liberal 17 hrs ago #17
If this warship was just heading home from training exercises. and... electric_blue68 6 hrs ago #21

Disaffected

(6,361 posts)
16. I'm still not clear on:
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 12:23 AM
Yesterday

How the US sub was supposed to know the ship was unarmed (especially since it was no longer participating in the "unarmed exercise" ).

Why attacking a vessel, let alone a warship, of a country you are at war with is a war crime. Is it only because the US has not declared war on Iran?

Does the same apply to unarmed buildings or other infrastructure within Iran?

Ruby the Liberal

(26,626 posts)
18. If only they had the same intel access as Tasmanian Devil does
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 09:44 AM
17 hrs ago

They don't get a pass for wanton murder under the guise of a willfully uninformed 'oopsie'.

They are bragging about blowing up hundreds of school children in southern Iran, double tapping fishing boats off South America, threatening to annex Greenland and now celebrating the massacre of 80 souls returning to their homes.

They celebrate their alpha-male carnage now, but karma is watching.

Disaffected

(6,361 posts)
19. That is a somewhat different topic.
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 12:10 PM
15 hrs ago

I'm simply referring to a question of what is a war crime and what is not. And yes, deliberate (if that's what it was) bombing of a children's school and the fishing boats are certainly in war crimes territory IMO. Also, IMO, the sinking of the warship does not constitute a war crime.

hardluck

(776 posts)
20. Milan 2026 did not require the ships to not carry any ammunition
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 12:32 PM
14 hrs ago

Milan 2026 had live-fire exercises:

The MILAN exercises kicked off with a presidential fleet review at sea. presided over by the Honorable President of India. It showcased indigenous platforms, including INS Vikrant, India's first domestically built aircraft carrier. Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, and Arnala-class anti-submarine warfare corvettes also participated, reflecting India's transformation into a "builder's navy."

As per the Indian Navy, the primary goals of MILAN 2026 included "operational interoperability, advanced warfare training." These focused on the "sea phase" (February 21–25), which included live-fire drills, anti-submarine warfare, and complex electronic warfare scenarios.


[link:https://japan-forward.com/why-were-indias-milan-2026-naval-exercises-important/]

Here's video of the live-fire portion of Milan 2026:


TomSlick

(12,973 posts)
11. I understand that you are being facetious but the discussion of whether or not this is a war makes me nuts.
Thu Mar 5, 2026, 10:41 PM
Thursday

International law doesn't quibble about what is and is not a war. What normal people call the law of war is really the law of international armed conflict. If one country is shooting at another, the law of international armed conflict applies.

The niceties of international law not withstanding, I don't give a tinker's dam what Mike Johnson says, Trump has started a war.

mackdaddy

(1,968 posts)
6. Apparently the United States bombed the Little Girls School, too.
Thu Mar 5, 2026, 09:43 PM
Thursday

'We' only killed over a hundred eight to 12 year old school girls.

Every time you thing we have hit bottom this admin goes lower.

Also twelve hospitals have been bombed too.

AIPAC-MAGA.

purr-rat beauty

(1,200 posts)
7. He didn't fire it
Thu Mar 5, 2026, 09:44 PM
Thursday

Our military did

The should be EVEN more aware of the implications and their duty to the Constitution with this strike than his fucking drunk ass

Shame on them...shame.

Tasmanian Devil

(128 posts)
10. Not attempting to rescue the ship's sailors is likely another war crime
Thu Mar 5, 2026, 10:33 PM
Thursday

It's not as clear cut, but you can assert that not trying to aid the sailors once the ship sunk is another war crime.

thought crime

(1,479 posts)
13. Surreal...
Thu Mar 5, 2026, 11:00 PM
Thursday

Hegseth looking and sounding more and more like an impression of Colin Jost's impression of Pete Hegseth.

electric_blue68

(26,710 posts)
21. If this warship was just heading home from training exercises. and...
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 09:18 PM
6 hrs ago
not attacking the US sub; why do that?

Ok, the Iranian Government is an enemy of the USA; but we started this military action/war. They didn't attack us. And the warship didn't attack us. 😑

And bombing a Girls' school is beyond the pale! Omg! 😩
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