On December 1, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Admiral Mitch Bradley, the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), had “acted lawfully and properly” when he ordered a second attack on the surviving individuals aboard the suspected drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean Sea in early September.
“Admiral Bradley carried out his mission within his legal authority, ensuring the vessel was destroyed and eliminating a threat to the United States,” Leavitt stated.
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The press secretary added that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had “approved Admiral Bradley’s execution of this operation,” confirming that the second strike had been authorized at the highest level.
The incident has drawn widespread attention after reports revealed that survivors from the first attack were targeted again in the follow-up strike. The operation, conducted as part of U.S. counter-narcotics efforts in the Caribbean, left 11 people dead and has raised questions internationally about the rules of engagement and proportional use of force.
However, the White House maintains that the admiral acted within the law and under direct authorization from the Secretary of Defense, emphasizing that the mission was aimed at neutralizing a threat posed by suspected narcotics traffickers.