The U.S. military has carried out another strike on a small boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean after a nearly three-week pause. This latest incident marks the 22nd strike against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific suspected of drug trafficking. The strike resulted in four casualties, raising the death toll of the operation to at least 87 individuals.
A video released alongside the announcement captured the moment when a small boat on the water was engulfed by a large explosion, leaving it in flames and smoke. On the same day as the strike, Adm. Frank (Mitch) Bradley briefed lawmakers in closed-door sessions at the U.S. Capitol regarding the initial strike conducted on September 2. Questions arose following reports that Bradley ordered a subsequent attack that led to the deaths of the survivors at the behest of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
During the briefings, Bradley clarified that there was no directive to “kill them all” from Hegseth. However, the stark video footage of the series of attacks left some lawmakers with serious concerns. Legal experts have raised issues about the ethics of targeting survivors after a strike at sea, suggesting it could violate military warfare laws.
Bradley, accompanied by Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided critical information to lawmakers amid heightened scrutiny of Hegseth’s leadership. Despite the testimony, questions persist about the legal justification for President Donald Trump’s aggressive use of war powers against alleged drug smugglers.
Lawmakers offered contrasting perspectives on the video footage. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas observed survivors attempting to salvage a boat loaded with drugs, while Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut described the distressing scene as “one of the most troubling things” he has encountered in public service. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington depicted the survivors as two individuals stranded on a disabled boat, only to be killed by missiles launched by the U.S. military.