Pentagon Confirms Admiral's Decision on 'Double Tap' Strike was Correct

On Tuesday, the Pentagon maintained its defense of a double tap naval strike conducted earlier this year, while minimizing the involvement of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid congressional scrutiny over a U.S. operation that resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals at sea.

Both the Pentagon and the White House have officially cleared Hegseth of any misconduct regarding the back-to-back strikes carried out on September 2 against a Venezuelan vessel near Trinidad. After two survivors emerged from the first attack, SEAL Team 6 was ordered to launch a second strike to eliminate them.

Background and Reporting

The strikes gained renewed attention following a Washington Post report which alleged that Hegseth instructed the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to kill everyone on what he identified as a drug smuggling boat. The then-JSOC commander, Adm. Frank Bradley, reportedly executed the order. Hegseth has since disputed the accuracy of the reporting but continues to support U.S. naval operations against boats in international waters despite congressional concerns over potential war crimes.

Hegseth and his team have stated he was unaware of the second strike conducted by Bradley until hours after it occurred.

The decision to restrike the narcoterrorist vessel was made by Adm. Bradley, operating under clear and longstanding authorities to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States was eliminated, Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson told reporters. Secretary Hegseth stands behind Adm. Bradley 100%. Adm. Bradley made the right call.

Support and Responsibility

While asserting his support for Bradley and other commanders, Hegseth distanced himself from the attacks, emphasizing that he was not personally making the operational decisions. During Tuesdays Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump, Hegseth stated that U.S. forces have only just begun striking narco boats and putting narcoterrorists at the bottom of the ocean.

As President Trump always has our back, we always have the back of our commanders who are making decisions in difficult situations, and we do in this case and all these strikes, Hegseth said. Theyre making judgment calls ensuring they defend the American people. Theyve done the right things, theyll keep doing that, and well have their backs.

Aftermath and Oversight Concerns

One month after the September strikes, Bradley was promoted to lead U.S. Special Operations Command, which oversees JSOC. Wilson confirmed that at least 82 people have been killed in targeted attacks on small vessels since the September operation.

Some members of Congress have expressed concern over the lack of legal justification for striking a boat allegedly involved in drug smuggling without evidence, urging rigorous oversight and a formal investigation.

Author: Sophia Brooks