Admiral confirms two survivors on 'narco boat' hit with second strike were unable to call for help, report reveals

The U.S. Navy admiral responsible for the dual strike on a suspected drug-trafficking boat stated to lawmakers that the two survivors did not seem to have communication tools to summon assistance.

Officials have spent days defending the Trump administrations September 2 operation in the Caribbean, asserting that the people aboard posed a risk to the U.S., as they could have called reinforcements or attempted to transport the drugs again.

Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley reportedly informed lawmakers in a private briefing that the two stranded sailors would not have been able to request help, according to three sources familiar with the discussions.

During the classified session, Bradley presented footage of the strike, showing the survivors clinging to a partially overturned vessel. Democratic Representative Jim Himes, a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, described the footage as one of the most troubling things Ive seen in my time in public service.

These are two individuals in evident distress, with no mobility and a destroyed boat, yet they were killed by U.S. forces, Himes said.

Conversely, Republican Senator Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, defended the second strike, claiming it was necessary due to the threat posed by the survivors.

I observed two survivors attempting to right a drug-laden boat destined for the United States, trying to continue their mission, Cotton said. Given the presence of other suspected narcoterrorist vessels nearby, this could have enabled them to recover their cargo and accomplices.

The administration has targeted vessels accused of drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, with at least 80 fatalities attributed to these operations. All those killed have been labeled narco terrorists by officials, though public evidence has not been disclosed.

Sources from the closed-door briefings said Bradley and the military command considered whether to conduct a second strike. After consulting with a Judge Advocate General officer, the action was deemed legally permissible.

Early reports suggested Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered a kill-all directive, but both the White House and Bradley denied this. Multiple members of Congress confirmed that Hegseth did not give such an order.

Questions remain about whether the strikes violated international law. While the administration and some Republican lawmakers argue the actions were lawful, Pentagon rules classify killing shipwrecked persons in need of assistance and care as a war crime. The Pentagon has been asked for comment.

Author: Grace Ellison