White House Confirms Second Sept. 2 Strike On Alleged Drug Boat

WASHINGTON — The White House confirmed Monday that nan U.S. did motorboat a 2nd strike connected an alleged supplier vessel from Venezuela successful early September and that it was ordered by Adm. Frank M. Bradley, who astatine nan clip headed nan Joint Special Operations Command.

The follow-up onslaught killed nan survivors of an first U.S. onslaught connected nan vessel, which nan Trump management has said originated from Venezuela. Some lawmakers and ineligible experts say that 2nd onslaught could represent a warfare crime.

“With respect to nan strikes successful mobility connected Sept. 2, Secretary Hegseth authorized Adm. Bradley to behaviour these kinetic strikes,” White House property caput Karoline Leavitt said successful a connection during Monday's briefing.

“Adm. Bradley worked good wrong his authority and nan rule directing nan engagement to guarantee nan vessel was destroyed and nan threat to nan United States of America was eliminated," she added.

U.S. Special Operations Command, which Bradley now leads arsenic commander, did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

The Washington Post reported that Bradley had ordered nan 2nd strike, and that he was complying pinch an bid from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “kill everybody.” NBC News has not confirmed nan item astir Hegseth.

One U.S. charismatic and a root acquainted pinch nan Pentagon’s actions connected Sept. 2 told NBC News precocious that nan first of nan 2 strikes conducted that time near astatine slightest 2 survivors, pinch nan consequent onslaught sidesplitting them.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump told reporters that Hegseth didn't bid nan 2nd strike.

"He said he didn't do it," said Trump, who besides said he didn't cognize if nan 2nd onslaught moreover happened. The president said he "wouldn't person wanted" it, adding that "Pete said he did not want them." Asked again if location was nary 2nd strike, Trump said: "I don’t know. I’m going to find retired astir it, but Pete said he did not bid nan decease of those 2 men."

Asked Monday what rule nan U.S. subject relied connected to warrant nan 2nd strike, Leavitt said: “The onslaught conducted connected Sept. 2 was conducted successful self-defense to protect Americans successful captious United States interests. The onslaught was conducted successful world waters and successful accordance pinch nan rule of equipped conflict.”

She besides confirmed that Trump will beryllium gathering pinch his nationalist information squad — which includes Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House main of unit Susie Wiles and lawman main of unit Stephen Miller — successful nan Oval Office later Monday.

Leavitt's comments travel amid widespread disapproval and bipartisan investigations successful nan House and Senate into nan 2nd vessel strike. The leaders of nan Senate Armed Services Committee — president Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and ranking personnel Jack Reed, D-R.I. — said successful a connection Friday that they will beryllium "conducting vigorous oversight to find nan facts related to these circumstances." Similarly, nan leaders of nan House Armed Services Committee — president Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and ranking personnel Adam Smith, D-Wash. — said they were taking "seriously nan reports of follow-on strikes connected boats alleged to beryllium ferrying narcotics successful nan SOUTHCOM region and are taking bipartisan action to stitchery a afloat accounting of nan cognition successful question."

Hegseth has defended nan galore U.S. strikes successful nan Caribbean, saying successful a post connected X Friday aft The Washington Post article was published that "these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to beryllium 'lethal, kinetic strikes.'"

"Our existent operations successful nan Caribbean are lawful nether some U.S. and world law, pinch each actions successful compliance pinch nan rule of equipped conflict — and approved by nan champion subject and civilian lawyers, up and down nan concatenation of command," he wrote.

Hegseth received backlash connected societal media aft he posted connected his individual X account what appeared to beryllium an AI-generated image of nan children's book characteristic Franklin, pinch nan title, "Franklin targets Narco Terrorists." It shows Franklin, a turtle, opinionated connected nan separator of a chopper aiming a instrumentality weapon astatine boats allegedly carrying drugs.

The strikes successful nan Caribbean are portion of an escalating unit run nan Trump management is waging against Venezuela. Trump declared successful a Truth Social post Saturday that Venezuela's airspace should beryllium considered "closed," which came arsenic nan U.S. is considering subject action against nan South American nation.