WASHINGTON – A Navy admiral told congressional leaders Thursday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not issue a “kill them all” order during a strike that killed two survivors of an initial attack on an alleged drug boat in international waters near Venezuela, but questions about the operation remain as lawmakers continue their investigation.
Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, now commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, made clear during a classified briefing that he received no directive to give “no quarter” or target the survivors, according to Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee. While some Republicans defended the strike as part of the U.S. military’s campaign against drug cartels, Democrats raised concerns after reviewing video footage showing the survivors in distress. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., described them as “two shirtless people clinging to the bow of a capsized and inoperable boat,” emphasizing the need for further investigation.
Bradley appeared alongside Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, before top congressional leaders from the Armed Services and Intelligence committees. The briefings come amid scrutiny over whether the Sept. 2 strike violated U.S. or international law. Previous reports claimed Bradley ordered the second strike to follow a Hegseth directive to “kill everybody,” a claim now disputed by the admiral.
While President Donald Trump has characterized drug cartels as armed threats to U.S. citizens, Democrats like Smith argue the administration’s broad definition of “combatant” creates legal and ethical problems for using lethal military force. Lawmakers are pressing for the release of full video footage and written records of the orders related to the operation, though Republican leaders controlling national security committees have pledged only a thorough review.
At the time of the attack, Bradley led the Joint Special Operations Command, overseeing elite special forces at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, before his promotion to U.S. Special Operations Command. His decades-long career includes service as a Navy SEAL and deployment to Afghanistan following the Sept. 11 attacks. Senators from both parties have praised his record but emphasized that accountability is expected if it is found that survivors were unlawfully targeted.
Lawmakers, particularly Democrats, are also seeking additional documentation, including intelligence reports that identified the vessels as targets, the rules of engagement, and criteria distinguishing combatants from civilians. More than 80 people have died in the strikes that began in September. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Hegseth remains responsible for the operation, noting that even if he did not personally order the second strike, his involvement made it foreseeable.