Navy admiral briefing lawmakers on overseeing strike on boat survivors

The U.S. Navy admiral, responsible for ordering the strike on survivors of a suspected drug boat attack, is set to brief lawmakers on Capitol Hill Thursday. Adm. Frank Mitch Bradley, now head of U.S. Special Operations Command, will provide classified details to key Congressional figures overseeing national security. This comes as the investigation into the military operation near Venezuela continues, with growing concerns over whether the actions violated legal norms. Lawmakers are demanding a full account of the events following reports that Bradley ordered the strike on two survivors after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's controversial directive to "kill everybody." Experts argue that if survivors were intentionally targeted, the strike would constitute a crime, raising calls for accountability across party lines.

Bradley is expected to meet with top leaders from the Armed Services Committees in both the House and Senate, as well as with the Senate Intelligence Committee's chair and vice chair. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer stressed the gravity of the matter, highlighting concerns for the safety of U.S. troops and the potential legal ramifications for military personnel involved. He emphasized that Congress and the public have not been provided with sufficient facts regarding the incident.

Lawmakers are keen to understand what orders were given by Hegseth, particularly regarding the rationale behind the second attack. While the Democrats have called for the release of the full video of the September 2nd attack, along with written records of orders and directives, Republicans, who control national security committees, have committed to a thorough investigation without specifically demanding those documents.

Sen. Roger Wicker, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, affirmed that the investigation would follow a systematic approach to uncover the truth. "We'll find out the ground truth," he said.

While President Trump has defended Hegseths handling of the operation, particularly in the "fog of war" following the first strike, questions about his role in the second attack remain. Hegseth acknowledged he did not oversee the second strike, but maintained that Bradley was authorized and justified in his decision.

Separately, the Pentagons inspector general is expected to release a report Thursday addressing Hegseths use of the Signal app to communicate details about a military operation against Houthi militants in Yemen. According to sources familiar with the findings, Hegseths use of the app jeopardized U.S. personnel and their mission. Despite these concerns, the Pentagon has downplayed the issue, portraying the report as a form of exoneration for Hegseth.

Bradley, who led Joint Special Operations Command at the time of the attack, will speak to lawmakers about the coordinated operations that led to the decision to strike. His career, spanning over 30 years with the Navy SEALs and special operations, includes early deployments to Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks. His recent promotion to head U.S. Special Operations Command was confirmed by the Senate with bipartisan support, with both Democratic and Republican senators praising his leadership.

Sen. Mark Warner, ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed his expectation for Bradley to provide clarity on the events. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, also lauded Bradley but stressed the need for accountability if it is found that the survivors were intentionally targeted.

Lawmakers continue to seek further documentation regarding the strike, including orders authorizing the operation, intelligence justifying the targets, and the rules of engagement followed. They also want to know who made the decision for the follow-up attack and whether Hegseth was involved in that decision. The situation remains complex, with conflicting views across party lines about the legitimacy and legality of the strikes.

As the investigation progresses, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are grappling with the broader implications of military action against drug cartels and the legality of targeting survivors in such operations. Some, like Sen. Markwayne Mullin, defend the use of military force against drug cartels, while others, such as Sen. Richard Blumenthal, argue that the operations legality was always questionable. Blumenthal asserts that even if Hegseth did not order the second attack, his involvement and leadership played a significant role in the chain of events that led to the deaths of the survivors.

Author: Olivia Parker