Senior US military officials have testified that a controversial airstrike which killed 11 individuals on a boat in the Caribbean was legally justified, as all those onboard were on an authorised military target list.
The Capitol Hill Testimony on the September Strike
According to sources speaking to NBC News, Admiral Frank 'Mitch' Bradley informed lawmakers this week that the lethal action taken on September 2 was lawful. He stated that every person on the suspected drug-smuggling vessel had been identified by officials and was included on a list of individuals eligible for lethal targeting if an opportunity arose.
The admiral was summoned to Capitol Hill to address mounting questions from legislators concerning the operation's legality. Sources indicate Bradley was adamant that he acted within the law throughout the engagement, which was ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Details of the Engagement and the 'Fog of War'
Bradley detailed to lawmakers that the boat was struck with a GBU-69 precision munition, designed to detonate in the air. The initial strike killed nine people and capsized the vessel. However, it later emerged that two individuals survived this first attack, clinging to the wreckage.
Officials observed bags of cocaine both on the burning boat and in the water. Bradley noted that another larger vessel was spotted nearby, believed to be awaiting a drug transfer, but it was not on the target list and thus could not be engaged.
The decision to conduct subsequent strikes was made because the drugs were not destroyed and the survivors, who were seen waving their arms, had not surrendered, were not visibly injured, and remained on the target list. Bradley confirmed that a third and fourth strike ultimately sank the boat.
Political Fallout and Demands for Accountability
The strike represents the Trump administration's first bombing in a two-month Caribbean campaign that has seen 14 boats destroyed. The incident has sparked a fierce debate in Washington, with lawmakers from both parties demanding transparency and accountability.
Democratic politicians are pressing the administration to release the full video of the attack and all written records of the orders involved. While Republicans controlling key security committees have not publicly called for the documents, they have promised a thorough review.
Legal experts have suggested the attack could constitute a war crime if the survivors were deliberately targeted after the initial strike. During his testimony, Bradley was specifically questioned about whether he received an illegal 'no quarter order'—an instruction to kill all combatants regardless of surrender—which he denied.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Hegseth has defended the operation, stating its aftermath was clouded in the 'fog of war'. At the recent Reagan National Defense Forum, he struck a defiant tone, declaring: 'If you bring drugs to this country in a boat, we will find you and we will sink you.'
