Tue Dec 02 01:57:27 UTC 2025: ## U.S. Navy Admiral’s Order for Second Strike on Drug Boat Sparks Controversy
Washington, D.C. – December 2, 2025 – The White House defended a U.S. Navy admiral’s decision to order a second strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean Sea in September, amidst bipartisan calls for congressional review. The incident, part of a broader U.S. military operation targeting alleged drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, has drawn scrutiny following a report that the second strike may have targeted survivors of the initial attack.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley, then commander of Joint Special Operations Command, acted “well within his authority and the law” when he ordered the follow-up strike to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat eliminated. She confirmed that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth authorised Adm. Bradley to conduct these strikes. Her statement came after President Trump stated he wouldn’t have wanted a second strike, when asked about the incident.
However, lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern. Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va., stated that targeting survivors would rise “to the level of a war crime.” Representative Mike Turner, R-Ohio, noted that Congress lacks information on the alleged second strike but agrees such an act would be illegal if it occurred. Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have initiated investigations.
Secretary Hegseth denied the allegations, calling them “fake news” and maintaining that the operations are lawful and comply with the law of armed conflict. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called for Secretary Hegseth to release video of the strike and testify under oath.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration defends the operations as necessary to stem the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States. The strikes are targeting alleged drug cartels, some of which the administration claims are controlled by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which has raised the possibility of potential strikes on Venezuelan territory.
President Trump confirmed a recent phone conversation with President Maduro, while Mr. Maduro has condemned the strikes, stating that Venezuela is ready to defend itself. Venezuela’s National Assembly has also launched an investigation into the strikes, acknowledging for the first time that Venezuelans have been killed.
The controversy surrounding the September 2 strike continues to escalate, with ongoing investigations and heightened tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela.
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