UPDATED: Alleged Drug Boat Bombed Twice by U.S. Wasn't Actually En Route to the United States

The boat, allegedly transporting drugs and hit by two American airstrikes in September, was reportedly not en route to the United States. Admiral Frank Bradley, who oversaw the controversial attack, revealed to lawmakers on Thursday that the boat was scheduled to rendezvous with a larger vessel to transfer drugs. However, the military was unable to locate this second vessel. Sources with direct knowledge of Bradley's comments informed CNN that this larger vessel was headed to Suriname, a South American country.

Despite this, Admiral Bradley defended the strike, stating that the drugs on the boat could still have been diverted to the United States. This narrative contradicts earlier statements by President Donald Trump, who claimed the vessel was heading to the U.S. The same day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the boat was likely headed to Trinidad or another Caribbean nation.

The airstrikes have sparked controversy following a report from the Washington Post, which alleged that the double strike on survivors was ordered to fulfill a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, instructing the SEAL team to eliminate everyone aboard. This led to widespread outrage and a briefing for a bipartisan group of lawmakers. During this briefing, Bradley presented a video of the strike, which House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-CT) described as one of the most troubling things Ive seen in my time in public service.

Admiral Bradley denied that Hegseth had given such an order, a claim echoed by other administration officials and Hegseth himself. During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the Secretary of Defense attributed the second strike to the "fog of war."

Author: Lucas Grant