It could be true in spite of Hegseth denials
And totally legal in wartime
Lets take a look at the Department of Defense Law of War Manual, for the purpose of establishing fact, and not politicizing the issue.
Shall we?
17.6.1 Prohibition on Declaring That No Quarter Be Given. It is prohibited to order that there shall be no survivors.
17.6.4 There is an affirmative obligation to take measures to protect the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked from pillage, and the dead from being despoiled.
17.14 PROTECTION OF THE WOUNDED, SICK, SHIPWRECKED, AND DEAD IN NIAC;
Sick, and Shipwrecked. All the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked, whether or not they have taken part in the armed conflict, shall be respected and protected.
14.1.1 Types of Persons Who Are Considered Wounded, Sick, and Shipwrecked in NIAC. The wounded, sick, and shipwrecked in non-international armed conflict may be understood to include:
• persons who have been rendered unconscious or otherwise have been incapacitated because of their wounds, sickness, or shipwreck;
• persons who have surrendered as a consequence of their health; and
• persons who have been shipwrecked (i.e., helpless persons in distress at sea or stranded on the coast) from any cause, including forced landings at sea by or from aircraft.
17.14.1.2 Meaning of "Respect and Protection" of the Wounded, Sick, and Shipwrecked.
The wounded, sick, and shipwrecked must be respected and protected at all times. This means that they should not be knowingly attacked, fired upon, or unnecessarily interfered with.
Persons who are part of armed forces or groups, however, are deemed to have accepted the risk of harm due to deliberate proximity to military objective. Although the presence of such persons does not serve to exempt nearby military objectives from attack due to the risk that such persons would be incidentally harmed, feasible precautions to reduce the risk of harm to such persons who are wounded, sick, or shipwrecked must be taken.
The respect and protection afforded the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked do not immunize them from search, or other necessary security measures, or capture and detention, even if they are receiving medical care.
17.14.2 Humane Treatment and Practicable Medical Care and Attention.
In all circumstances, the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked shall be treated humanely and shall receive, to the fullest extent practicable and with the least possible delay, the medical care and attention required by their condition.
There shall be no distinction among them founded on any grounds other than medical ones.
14.3 Search, Collection, and Protection of the Wounded, Sick, Shipwrecked, and Dead.
Whenever circumstances permit, and particularly after an engagement, all possible measures shall be taken, without delay, to search for and collect the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked, to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment, to ensure their adequate care, and to search for the dead, prevent their being despoiled, and decently dispose of them.
And Addressing Politicization;
18.2.3 Maintaining Public Support and Political Legitimacy.
The implementation and enforcement of the law of war are also supported by the fact that violations of the law of war are counterproductive to the political goals sought to be achieved by military operations. For example, violations of the law of war in counter-insurgency operations may diminish the support of the local population. Violations of the law of war may also diminish the support of the populace in democratic States, including the United States and other States that would otherwise support or participate in coalition operations. Violations of the law of war committed by one side may encourage third parties to support the opposing side.
18.3 DUTIES OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES
Each member of the armed services has a duty to: (1) comply with the law of war in good faith; and (2) refuse to comply with clearly illegal orders to commit violations of the law of war.
18.3.1 Comply With the Law of War in Good Faith. Each member of the armed forces has a duty to comply with the law of war in good faith. In practice, the obligation of individua service members to comply with the law of war in good faith is met when service members: (1)perform their duties as they have been trained and directed; and (2) apply the training on the law of war that they have received.
18.3.2 Refuse to Comply With Clearly Illegal Orders to Commit Law of War Violations. Members of the armed forces must refuse to comply with clearly illegal orders to commit law of war violations. In addition, orders should not be construed to authorize implicitly violations of law of war.
18.3.2.1 Clearly Illegal Orders to Commit Law of War Violations. The requirement to refuse to comply with orders to commit law of war violations applies to orders to perform conduct that is clearly illegal or orders that the subordinate knows, in fact, are illegal. For example, orders to fire upon the shipwrecked would be clearly illegal.
18.4 COMMANDERS' DUTY TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE THE LAW OF WAR
Military commanders have a duty to take appropriate measures as are within their power to control the forces under their command for the prevention of violations of the law of war. For example, commanders have obligations to take appropriate measures to prevent pillage and to protect the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked within their control.
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Keeping in mind we are discussing international law, and domestic laws of the United States. Even in armed conflict are none of the actions described above permitted. This means you either ascribe war crimes, or extra judicial murder, if what has been alleged has taken place.
If it is a war crime, then it is a black eye on the US military, and the commander that followed the illegal order is liable for prosecution under UCMJ Articles.
If it is extra judicial murder, than anyone with prior knowledge is complicit, and subject to arrest and prosecution under US Codes.
Which would you presume to be the case?