U.S. admiral behind boat strikes says no ‘kill them all’ order from Hegseth

Navy Adm. Frank Bradley briefed Congress on a controversial military strike conducted in September against a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, which resulted in the deaths of survivors from an initial attack. The closed-door meetings involved bipartisan lawmakers from the Intelligence and Armed Services committees, aiming to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commander responsible for the controversial double tap strikes on a drug trafficking boat in September briefed lawmakers on Capitol Hill, following demands for increased transparency regarding the second strike that targeted survivors.

Navy Admiral Frank 'Mitch' Bradley addressed lawmakers regarding a military strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, clarifying that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not issue a 'kill them all' order during the operation. The strike, which occurred on September 2, resulted in fatalities among individuals on board the vessel, raising significant ethical and legal concerns.

Congressional leaders, including Sen. Jack Reed, were briefed by Adm. Frank Bradley regarding a second military strike off the coast of Venezuela. This meeting follows rising tensions and concerns over U.S. military operations in the region, particularly regarding alleged drug trafficking.

Top House Democrats have accused the Trump administration of scapegoating Navy Admiral Frank Bradley to deflect blame for potential war crimes linked to military strikes against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean. The Democrats argue that the administration's focus on Bradley as the decision-maker for a controversial 'double-tap' strike is part of a broader pattern of evading accountability.