White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefs the press at the White House in Washington, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Evan Vucci/AP)
WASHINGTON — The White House said on Monday that a Navy admiral ordered the second strike on an alleged drug boat that killed 11 people in September.
“Secretary [Pete] Hegseth authorized Adm. [Frank M.] Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Adm. Bradley worked well within his authority, and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States was eliminated,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
The Washington Post reported Friday that Hegseth issued a verbal order in September to strike an alleged drug vessel a second time to kill any survivors. Hegseth and Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell referred to the reporting as “fabricated” and “fake news.”
President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would not have wanted a second strike on the boat and that Hegseth denied giving such an order.
Air Force Gen. Dan C. Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, the incoming commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, during a change of command ceremony in Tampa, Fla. on Oct. 3, 2025. (Cutler Brice/U.S. Special Operations Command)
Bradley became the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command on Oct. 3. Bradley had previously been the commander of Joint Special Operations Command since 2022 and is a Navy SEAL officer who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
“Adm. Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support,” Hegseth said Monday in a post on X. “I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the Sept. 2 mission and all others since.”
The U.S. conducted its first strike on an alleged drug boat Sept. 2, killing 11 people. The U.S. has conducted 21 known strikes and killed 83 people in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.
The U.S. administration says the strikes in the Caribbean are aimed at drug cartels, some of which it claims are controlled by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump also is weighing whether to carry out strikes on the Venezuelan mainland.
Trump was scheduled to meet with his national security team Monday as bipartisan scrutiny mounted.
Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had a call during the weekend with leaders on the Senate and House Armed Service Committees to discuss operations in SOUTHCOM.
“During the call, the chairman reiterated his trust and confidence in the experienced commanders at every echelon and his pride in those serving in the Joint Force,” his office said in a statement Monday.
Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, participated last month in a video alongside five other Democratic lawmakers who served in the military and intelligence community urging service members to remember their oaths to the Constitution and that they could resist unlawful orders.
The Pentagon announced last week it launched a review of “serious allegations of misconduct” against Kelly, a retired Navy captain. The Pentagon said it initiated a “thorough” review of the allegations against Kelly to determine further actions, which could include a recall to active-duty service for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.
The House and Senate Armed Services Committees have opened investigations into U.S. military strikes.
“This rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, when asked about a follow-up strike aimed at people no longer able to fight, said Congress does not have information that happened.
“Obviously, if that occurred, that would be very serious, and I agree that that would be an illegal act,” Turner said.
Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump designated several drug cartels as terrorist organizations, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua. His administration has asserted that the U.S. is in an “armed conflict” with cartels and will treat their members as “unlawful combatants.”
Adm. Alvin Holsey, the head of U.S. Southern Command, announced in October he would retire by the end of 2025, less than a year into his tenure. Holsey will relinquish command Dec. 12, and Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan Pettus will take over, SOUTHCOM said in a statement.
Contributing: The Associated Press
