Admiral Testifies on Caribbean Maritime Strike
A U.S. Navy admiral provided testimony affirming that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not issue an order to "kill them all" during a second U.S. military strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean. This information was reported by multiple lawmakers following closed-door hearings.
Briefings and Lawmaker Reactions
Democratic and Republican lawmakers confirmed this detail after reviewing footage of the September 2 incident and hearing from Admiral Frank Bradley. The briefings, held before members of the House of Representatives and later the Senate, addressed ongoing questions regarding the legality of military force used against suspected drug vessels. The White House has stated that Admiral Bradley was responsible for the strikes and acted within legal parameters.
Representative Jim Himes (D), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, expressed respect for Admiral Bradley but characterized his viewing experience as "one of the most troubling things I've seen." He noted, "Yes, they were carrying drugs. They were not in the position to continue their mission in any way."
Following the briefing, Representative Adam Smith (D), the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, and Representative Himes released a joint statement advocating for the public release of the video footage. They stated, "The briefing left us with more questions than answers, and Congress must continue to investigate this matter and conduct oversight."
Conversely, Republican Senator Tom Cotton, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated that Admiral Bradley and Secretary Hegseth "did exactly what we would expect them to do." Senator Cotton described witnessing "two survivors trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs bound to the United States back over so they could stay in the fight." Republican House Representative Rick Crawford also defended the strikes, asserting his conviction that they were conducted professionally. Senator Jack Reed (D) stated he was "disturbed" by the footage and indicated his party would continue to investigate.
Details of the Second Strike
The revelation of a second strike, occurring after survivors from the first strike were present, has prompted renewed inquiries into the legality of targeting individuals who may be wounded, in the context of rules of conflict. President Donald Trump has stated he has "no problem" with public release of the second strike's video, while footage of the first strike has already been made public.
U.S. media, including CBS, reported that two survivors from the initial strike attempted to re-board the vessel before it was struck a second time. A source indicated the individuals appeared to be attempting to salvage drugs. Admiral Bradley was expected to inform lawmakers that the survivors constituted a legitimate target because the boat was believed to still contain drugs, according to a U.S. official who spoke to Reuters.
Broader Context of U.S. Maritime Operations
The September 2 incident marked the first in a series of U.S. operations against vessels, which have resulted in over 80 fatalities across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific regions. U.S. officials maintain the September 2 attack was lawful, though a complete understanding of the events remains under development.
The Washington Post first reported the survival of two individuals after the initial strike and that Secretary Hegseth had allegedly ordered the second attack. At that time, Hegseth described the reporting as "fabricated, inflammatory and derogatory," and Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell called the narrative "false." The White House later confirmed the existence of a second strike, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that Admiral Bradley, not Hegseth, issued the order, acting "well within his authority and the law."
Secretary Hegseth commented on Tuesday that he observed the initial strike but "did not personally see survivors," attributing this to the "flaming wreckage and 'the fog of war'." He recalled later being informed of Admiral Bradley's decision to "sink the boat and eliminate the threat," a move Hegseth stated he considered justified.
Wider Concerns and International Reactions
The issue has generated concern among both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, some of whom had previously criticized the broader military campaign. In addition to these strikes, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the Caribbean.
Venezuela has consistently condemned the strikes, accusing the White House of escalating regional tensions to destabilize its government. President Trump has asserted that these strikes have significantly reduced maritime drug trafficking, a claim for which public evidence has not been provided. Similarly, public evidence identifying targeted individuals in each case as drug traffickers has not been presented.