US military attacks second suspected drug boat while investigation into initial strike commences

WASHINGTON The U.S. Southern Command confirmed that it launched an additional strike on a small boat in the eastern Pacific on Thursday, marking the first such operation in nearly three weeks. This represents the 22nd intervention targeting vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific reportedly involved in drug trafficking under the previous administrations directives.

According to a social media update, Thursdays strike resulted in four fatalities, raising the total death count from the campaign to at least 87.

A video shared with the announcement shows the vessel moving along the water before being engulfed in a massive explosion. The footage then widens to reveal the boat in flames and emitting thick smoke.

The operation occurred the same day that Adm. Frank Mitch Bradley attended a series of classified briefings on Capitol Hill as part of an inquiry into the first strike executed by the military on September 2. These briefings followed a report alleging that Bradley had authorized a subsequent attack that killed survivors to meet directives from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Bradley denied receiving a kill them all order, though the video documentation of the strikes raised serious questions among legislators.

Legal analysts have noted that targeting survivors at sea could constitute a breach of international military law.

Bradley, together with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, briefed lawmakers in a confidential session, revealing new details amid scrutiny of Hegseths leadership. However, many questions remain about the legality of President Trumps use of war powers against suspected drug traffickers.

Reactions from lawmakers differed after viewing the footage. Republican Senator Tom Cotton described seeing survivors attempting to overturn a drug-laden boat bound for the U.S. to continue the operation. In contrast, Connecticut Representative Jim Himes, top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called the footage one of the most disturbing things he has witnessed in public service, noting that two individuals were left in clear distress on a disabled vessel and were killed.

Washington Representative Adam Smith, senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, described the survivors as two shirtless individuals clinging to the bow of a capsized boat, drifting helplessly until struck by missiles.

Analysis: U.S. Military Strikes in Eastern Pacific Under Scrutiny

The recent strike by U.S. Southern Command on a small boat in the eastern Pacific marks a continuation of operations targeting suspected drug trafficking vessels. Thursday's intervention resulted in four fatalities, bringing the campaign's death toll to at least 87. The operation is the first reported strike in nearly three weeks and the 22nd under directives from the previous administration.

Video footage of the strike, released publicly, shows the vessel engulfed in flames and emitting thick smoke. The documentation has intensified congressional scrutiny, particularly regarding allegations that survivors were targeted in a follow-up strike. Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, along with Gen. Dan Caine, briefed lawmakers on Capitol Hill, denying any order to “kill them all,” while legal analysts warn that such actions could violate international military law.

Responses from lawmakers remain sharply divided. Some view the strikes as necessary to disrupt drug trafficking operations, while others characterize the footage as deeply troubling, highlighting the ethical and legal complexities of military engagement against non-state actors at sea. Questions persist regarding the limits of presidential war powers in such operations and the adherence to international legal standards.

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• US military conducts strike on another suspected drug boat as probe into the first strike begins