US Navy Admiral testifies Hegseth did not give 'kill' order on Venezuelan drug boat

US Navy Admiral Frank Bradley has testified that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not give an order to “kill them all” by conducting a second strike on the alleged Venezuelan drug boat to ensure the survivors were dead.

After reviewing footage of the 2 September double-strike incident and receiving a closed-door briefing from Adm. Frank Bradley, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers voiced their support.

The briefings, first to members of the House of Representatives and later to the Senate, came amid ongoing questions about the legality of using military force against suspected drug-smuggling vessels.

The White House has consistently pinned the blame on Bradley for conducting the follow-up strike on the drug vessel, although backing the admiral’s “right call”. The Trump administration has been facing heat from US lawmakers over the use of military force.

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‘Most troubling thing ever’

Democratic Congressman Jim Himes, a ranking member in the US House Intelligence Committee, said that while he “respects” Bradley, the admiral “should have the respect of all of us”.

“But what I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I’ve seen in my time in public service. Yes, they were carrying drugs. They were not in the position to continue their mission in any way,” Himes said.

After the briefing, Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, issued a joint statement with Himes urging that the video be made public.

“The briefing left us with more questions than answers, and Congress must continue to investigate this matter and conduct oversight,” they said.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Adm Bradley and Hegseth “did exactly what we would expect them to do.”

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“I saw two survivors trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs bound to the United States back over so they could stay in the fight,” Cotton said.

What has Hegseth said?

Responding to a question by a journalist during a Cabinet meeting earlier this week, Hegseth said that while he saw the first strike “live”, the second attack occurred in his absence as he had “quickly moved on to another meeting.”

“I did not personally see survivors. That thing was on fire and it exploded… you can’t see anything. This is called the fog of war,” the secretary said.

As the Trump administration pins the episode on Bradley, Hegseth said that he learned about the admiral’s “correct decision” of striking the boat for a second time, a couple of hours later."