White House confirms US Navy commander authorized second strike on Venezuelan boat

The White House has confirmed that a senior US Navy officer authorized a second military strike on a suspected Venezuelan drug boat. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Monday that Admiral Frank Bradley acted fully within his legal authority when approving the additional operation.

Leavitt clarified that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the strikes but did not instruct forces to "kill everyone on board," contradicting earlier media reports. The follow-up strike reportedly occurred after two individuals survived the initial explosion and remained on the burning vessel.

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns over these actions and pledged congressional reviews. Leavitt emphasized that President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have declared that groups labeled as narco-terrorist organizations are legally subject to lethal force if they threaten the United States.

The president has the right to eliminate threats to the nation, Leavitt said, adding that Trump met with his national security team in the Oval Office on Monday to discuss Venezuela and other security matters.

Recent media coverage suggesting Hegseth ordered the killing of all individuals on board the vessel during the September 2 strike has intensified scrutiny over the legality of US military actions against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. In recent weeks, the US has increased its military presence in the region and carried out multiple strikes against vessels thought to be involved in drug trafficking near Venezuela and Colombia. These operations have reportedly resulted in over 80 fatalities since early September.

The Trump administration frames these actions as defensive, aimed at intercepting illicit drugs destined for the United States. Hegseth explained on X that the operations are intended to halt lethal drugs, destroy narco-trafficking vessels, and neutralize individuals considered narco-terrorists.

Leavitt noted that Hegseth has engaged with congressional members over the weekend to address their concerns. The defense secretary rejected media allegations, calling them "fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory." President Trump expressed full confidence in Hegseths actions.

Senators Roger Wicker and Jack Reed confirmed that the Senate Armed Services Committee has launched inquiries into the incidents, while the House Armed Services Committee announced bipartisan efforts to compile a comprehensive account of the operations.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that their chairman met with congressional armed services members over the weekend to discuss counter-narcotics missions and their legality, expressing full trust in military commanders at all levels.

The Trump administration maintains that its Caribbean operations constitute a non-international armed conflict against alleged drug traffickers. Geneva Convention rules prohibit targeting wounded participants, requiring their capture and care instead.

Under former President Obama, the US military faced criticism for drone strikes in so-called double tap operations, which sometimes caused unintended casualties.

Venezuela's National Assembly condemned the US strikes and pledged a thorough investigation into the alleged follow-up attack that may have killed two survivors. The Venezuelan government accused the United States of escalating regional tensions with intentions to destabilize its government.

Author: Sophia Brooks