The White House has publicly confirmed that the senior admiral overseeing US military operations in the Caribbean directed a second, lethal strike against a suspected drug-trafficking vessel, an attack that killed two survivors from the initial engagement.
Admiral's Order Under Scrutiny
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Monday that Admiral Frank M. "Mitch" Bradley issued the order to fire on the vessel a second time on September 2. She asserted the admiral was "well within his authority and the law."
"He directed the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat from narco terrorists was eliminated," Leavitt told reporters. She described the overall strike, the first in a campaign that has reportedly killed more than 80 people in recent months, as an act of self-defence to protect Americans and vital national interests.
Allegations of 'Kill Everybody' Command
This confirmation follows a Washington Post report citing officials with direct knowledge. It alleged that when two men emerged from the wreckage, Admiral Bradley issued the order to comply with instructions allegedly given by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to "kill everybody" on the boats. The report stated the two survivors were subsequently "blown apart in the water."
The Trump administration has refused to clarify whether the survivors posed any imminent threat when the second strike was authorised. The incident has ignited intense legal and political scrutiny, with law-of-war experts telling The Independent the action could constitute murder and a war crime.
Political Fallout and Pentagon Response
Members of Congress from both parties are now pledging rigorous oversight. Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator Jack Reed, the panel's top Democrat, announced they have directed inquiries to the Defence Department and will be conducting vigorous oversight.
Initially silent on the allegations, Secretary Hegseth later issued a lengthy statement on social media platform X. He defended the campaign without directly denying he issued the "kill everybody" command. "As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors," he wrote, asserting all actions were lawful and approved by military lawyers.
At the time of the September attack, Admiral Bradley led the Joint Special Operations Command. He has since been promoted to lead its parent organisation, the U.S. Special Operations Command.
