US Navy Admiral Frank Bradley has begun giving classified briefings to senior members of Congress following a highly controversial American double strike on a small vessel allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean. The incident has placed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and other members of the Trump administration under significant scrutiny, as lawmakers raise questions about whether the military used lawful force against suspected drug traffickers. The White House maintains that Admiral Bradley authorised the action and insists he acted legally. Still, the gravity of the incident has shaken lawmakers from both parties. One member of the House Intelligence Committee described the video of the second strike as one of the most disturbing things he had ever seen.
Representative Jim Himes, who viewed the footage, said the individuals on the vessel appeared unable to continue any mission and posed no active threat. The discovery that two separate strikes were executed has intensified debate over whether the rules of conflict were violated, particularly regarding the treatment of wounded individuals who may be unable to defend themselves. US Navy Admiral Faces Lawmakers as he prepares to show the video to the Senate and provide a detailed explanation of his decision making, according to information obtained by CBS News. President Donald Trump has publicly stated he has no objection to releasing footage of the second strike. The first strike has already been made available to the public.
Lawmakers Demand Answers as US Navy Admiral Defends Double Tap Strike
Reports from US media indicate that during the first blast two survivors were left in the water and appeared to try climbing back onto the damaged vessel. A source claimed they may have been attempting to recover the remaining contraband. According to a US official who spoke to Reuters, Bradley is expected to tell lawmakers that the survivors were considered a continued threat because the vessel still contained illegal substances. The strikes of 2 September marked the beginning of a broader military campaign that has resulted in more than eighty deaths across the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific. While US officials insist that all actions were lawful, new details have slowly emerged that raise concerns about transparency and oversight.
The Washington Post first reported that the defence secretary had ordered the second strike to eliminate the survivors. Hegseth angrily rejected the claim, calling the story fabricated, while Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell also denied the allegations. The White House later confirmed a second strike did occur but asserted that Admiral Bradley, not Hegseth, gave the order and acted within legal boundaries. Hegseth said he watched the first strike live but did not see survivors due to the chaos of the scene. He later learned that Bradley chose to sink the vessel completely, a decision he supported.
The operation has drawn bipartisan concern in Congress, especially as the United States increases its military activity in the Caribbean. Venezuela has condemned the strikes and accused Washington of escalating regional tensions for political ends. Legal experts interviewed by the BBC have questioned whether the second strike could be justified under international law, which protects shipwrecked individuals and combatants rendered unable to fight. Families of victims, including that of Colombian national Alejandro Carranza, have begun filing complaints with international human rights bodies.
source:BBC
