UNITED STATES lawmakers from both main parties said on Sunday that they support congressional reviews of US military attacks against vessels accused of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

The lawmakers cited a report that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for all crew members to be killed as part of a September 2 attack.

The lawmakers said they did not know whether last week’s Washington Post report was true, and some Republicans were sceptical, but they said attacking survivors of an initial missile strike poses serious legal concerns.

Democrat Senator Tim Kaine said: “This rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true.”

When asked about a follow-up strike aimed at people no longer able to fight, Republican Representative Mike Turner, said Congress did not have information that happened. He noted that leaders of the armed services committee in both the House and Senate have opened investigations.

“Obviously, if that occurred, that would be very serious and I agree that that would be an illegal act,” Mr Turner said.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Sunday evening while flying back to Washington from Florida, where he celebrated Thanksgiving, confirmed that he had recently spoken with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Mr Trump says the strikes in the Caribbean are aimed at cartels, some of which it claims without evidence are controlled by Mr Maduro.

Mr Trump declined to comment on details of the call.

“I wouldn’t say it went well or badly,” Mr Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, when asked about the call.

The Venezuelan Communications Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the call with Mr Trump.

On Saturday, Mr Trump said the airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela should be considered as “closed in its entirety.”

The move was denounced by the Venezuelans as a “colonial threat,” which undermined its sovereignty.