A senior commander in the US Navy approved a second round of strikes on a boat that American officials say was being used by Venezuelan drug traffickers, the White House confirmed on Monday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the officer involved, Admiral Frank Bradley, acted properly. According to her, “Admiral (Frank) Bradley worked well within his authority and the law” when he ordered the follow-up attack.
Leavitt added that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had authorised the military action, but she denied a claim by The Washington Post that he directed the forces to “kill everybody”. Reports suggest the second strike happened after two people survived the first blast and were seen hanging on to the burning vessel.
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have voiced alarm and promised to review the strike orders.
Admiral Bradley Acted Within Law, Says White House
During the briefing, Leavitt made it clear that “President (Donald) Trump and Secretary Hegseth have made it clear that presidentially designated narco-terrorist groups are subject to lethal targeting in accordance with the laws of war.” She did not confirm whether the first strike left survivors or whether the second attack was meant to kill them.
Lawmakers Demand Review in Venezuelan Drug Boat Case
Media reports claiming that Hegseth ordered the killings during a 2 September mission have fuelled fresh concerns about the legality of US military actions against suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean.
Hegseth strongly rejected the allegations, calling them “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory”. He later posted that Admiral Bradley “is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support.
“I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since.”
US Expands Anti-Narcotics Operations in Caribbean Waters
In recent weeks, the US military has increased its operations in the Caribbean, targeting boats believed to be involved in drug trafficking near Venezuela and Colombia. These missions are part of a larger, ongoing anti-narcotics campaign. Reports indicate that more than 80 people have been killed in the strikes since early September.
Trump Administration Calls Strikes ‘Self-Defence’ Against Drug Threats
The administration argues that these operations are necessary for US security, saying they are carried out in self-defence to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the country.
However, the strikes have raised tensions with Venezuela, as President Trump has said he is still considering deploying US ground troops to the region.
Congress Launches Bipartisan Probes Into Military Orders in Venezuelan Drug Boat Case
The growing controversy has drawn the attention of Congress. The Senate Armed Services Committee announced over the weekend that it will be “conducting vigorous oversight to determine the facts” of the strikes.
Committee chairman Senator Roger Wicker said lawmakers intend to interview the “admiral that was in charge of the operation” and review audio and video evidence to “see what the orders were.”
The House Armed Services Committee has also promised a bipartisan review to secure a complete account of what happened.
Joint Chiefs Brief Lawmakers on Mission Intent and Legal Concerns in Venezuelan Drug Boat case
Over the weekend, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met members of both House and Senate committees. The discussions focused on recent operations and “the intent and legality of missions to disrupt illicit trafficking networks.”
