Top Admiral Acknowledges that Survivors of Narco-Boat Strike Were Killed and Unable to Call for Help: CNN

A high-ranking admiral who oversaw the Trump-era anti-narcotics maritime operations acknowledged on Thursday that two individuals killed in a second missile strike on September 2 were unable to communicate for help, CNN reports. This explanation had been suggested as a reason for the follow-up attack.

Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley, then in charge of Joint Special Operations Command, reportedly informed lawmakers in private briefings that the two people clinging to debris did not appear to possess radios or any communication equipment, according to multiple sources.

This admission contradicts previous assertions that the men were valid targets because they seemed to be signaling for assistance. The argument, presented behind closed doors in Congress and mentioned in media discussions, was intended to counter accusations that the strike constituted a war crime, as Pentagon law-of-war guidelines prohibit targeting shipwrecked individuals.

Bradley explained that he approved the second missile strike after reviewing surveillance footage for 41 minutes, concluding that the partially submerged boat likely contained cocaine that could be recovered. One source described this reasoning as completely irrational.

Reactions among lawmakers were mixed. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) stated he witnessed two survivors attempting to right a drug-laden vessel to continue the operation. In contrast, Representative Jim Himes (D-CT) called the incident extremely disturbing, noting that the two unarmed individuals were clinging to a wrecked boat when the decision was made to target them.

While some officials deny orders to kill them all, questions persist regarding the legal justification for a campaign that has conducted over 20 strikes and resulted in at least 87 deaths.

Author: Connor Blake