The U.S. military reported carrying out a strike on a small boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday after a nearly three-week break. This marks the 22nd strike against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific linked to drug trafficking as claimed by the Trump administration. The operation resulted in four casualties, bringing the total death toll to at least 87 individuals.
A video released alongside the announcement captured the moment the small boat was engulfed in a massive explosion on the water. The footage showed the boat ablaze and emitting smoke after the strike. On the same day, Adm. Frank (Mitch) Bradley attended closed-door briefings at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers commenced an inquiry into the initial strike conducted by the military on September 2. Reports indicated that Bradley sanctioned a subsequent attack that led to the deaths of survivors to meet Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directives.
During the briefings, Bradley refuted claims of a “kill them all” order from Hegseth but faced scrutiny from lawmakers after a video of the series of attacks raised concerns. Legal experts expressed reservations about the ethical implications of targeting survivors at sea following a strike.
Bradley, accompanied by Gen. Dan Caine, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented new insights to lawmakers amid heightened scrutiny of Hegseth’s leadership. However, lingering questions remained regarding the legal justification for President Donald Trump’s unconventional use of war powers against suspected drug smugglers.
Lawmakers provided varying perspectives on the video footage. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton observed survivors attempting to salvage a drug-laden boat destined for the United States, while Democratic Reps. Jim Himes and Adam Smith expressed distress over the fate of the survivors, portraying them as helpless individuals killed by the U.S. military.
