Admiral denies issuing 'kill them all' order in boat attack

A U.S. Navy admiral informed Congress on Thursday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not issue a kill them all command during a naval strike that killed two survivors of an alleged drug smuggling boat near Venezuela. However, serious questions remain as lawmakers scrutinize the incident.

Sen. Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said after a classified briefing, Admiral Frank Bradley made it clear he received no order to give no quarter or to kill everyone. Cotton defended the strike, but Democrats who viewed video footage of the killings raised concerns over the justification for the operation.

Rep. Adam Smith, the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, described the attack as an order to destroy the drugs and kill the 11 people on the vessel. He emphasized that the two survivors were essentially defenseless, two shirtless individuals clinging to a capsized, disabled boat drifting in open water.

Admiral Bradley, accompanied by Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed lawmakers amid a growing congressional investigation into Hegseths role in the operation. Questions persist over whether the strike could constitute a violation of international law.

Congressional Scrutiny Intensifies

Lawmakers are seeking full accountability after reports suggested that Bradley had ordered the strike on survivors to follow Hegseths alleged directive to kill everybody. Legal experts warn that targeting survivors may amount to a crime. Cotton noted that video evidence showed the two individuals attempting to right a drug-laden boat heading to the United States.

Rep. Jim Himes, ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said the survivors were clearly in distress, with no means of movement, and were killed by U.S. forces despite the boat being destroyed.

President Trump has argued that drug traffickers should be treated as combatants due to the threat posed by their cargo. While Smith acknowledged that cocaine may have been present, he criticized the broad interpretation of combatant status, which he says drives lethal military actions against suspected traffickers.

Cotton praised the militarys efforts against cartels, while other lawmakers, including some Republicans, expressed concern that the campaign may overstep legal limits on armed conflict.

Details on Admiral Bradley

At the time of the strike, Bradley commanded the Joint Special Operations Command, coordinating elite military units from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. A month later, he became commander of U.S. Special Operations Command. Bradleys decades-long career included service as a Navy SEAL and early deployment to Afghanistan after September 11. His promotion to admiral was unanimously approved in the Senate, with bipartisan praise for his record.

Sen. Thom Tillis described Bradley as rock solid and exceptional but emphasized that any chain-of-command personnel found responsible for targeting survivors must be held accountable.

Congressional Requests and Investigation

The full scope of the investigation remains uncertain. Lawmakers are requesting executive orders, complete strike videos, intelligence identifying the vessels as targets, rules of engagement, and criteria distinguishing combatants from civilians. Senate Armed Services Committee leaders, including Sen. Jack Reed and Sen. Roger Wicker, have formally submitted these requests.

More than 80 people have died in related strikes since September. Sen. Richard Blumenthal stated that Hegseth bears responsibility, even if he did not directly order the second strike, noting that his involvement contributed to the deaths of the two survivors.

Author: Zoe Harrison