A senior US Navy admiral has reportedly informed lawmakers that every individual aboard an alleged drug smuggling vessel, which was subjected to a controversial 'double-tap' military strike, was on an officially sanctioned list of military targets.
The Closed-Door Briefing
According to a report by NBC News, Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley gave a closed-door briefing to approximately a dozen US lawmakers on Thursday. In that session, he stated that all 11 people on the ship were identified on a roster of narco-terrorists. Military and intelligence officials had previously authorised the use of lethal force against those named on the list.
Admiral Bradley asserted that intelligence operatives had confirmed the identities of those on board and validated them as legitimate targets prior to the operation. The briefing was detailed by two US officials and another person familiar with the discussions.
Details of the Strike and Mounting Scrutiny
The incident in question occurred on 2 September 2025 in the Caribbean Sea. The operation, termed a 'double-tap' strike, involved an initial attack followed by a second strike after survivors were spotted.
Admiral Bradley explained to lawmakers that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered him to eliminate the individuals on the target list, destroy the narcotics on the boat, and sink the vessel. Following the first strike, when two survivors were seen, Bradley authorised the second attack. He justified this by stating the drugs remained intact, the survivors had not surrendered, showed no visible injuries, and remained on the approved target list.
The admiral further reported that the second strike killed the two survivors but failed to sink the boat, leading him to order two additional strikes to complete the mission.
Controversy and Legal Questions
The strike has become the centre of a significant controversy. This intensified after The Washington Post reported that Secretary Hegseth ordered Bradley to "kill everybody" on the vessel. The Pentagon has labelled this narrative as "completely false."
During his briefing, Admiral Bradley was directly asked if he had received an illegal 'no quarter' order—a command to kill enemies even if they surrendered or were incapacitated. He denied receiving any such order and stated he would not have complied if he had.
Some legislators and former military officials have expressed serious concerns that the strikes may have breached international law. In contrast, the White House has maintained that the operations were conducted legally and with proper authorisation.
Adding another layer, Bradley told lawmakers that US intelligence did not conclude the drugs were destined for the United States. Instead, the vessel was reportedly travelling toward Suriname in South America to rendezvous with a larger ship. However, he argued there remained a possibility the narcotics could eventually have reached US shores.
Defence Secretary Hegseth has publicly supported Admiral Bradley in recent days, stating he would have "made the same call" himself. The Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment from several news outlets regarding the latest reports.
