Overview
- At the Reagan National Defense Forum, the defense secretary said he “fully” supports the follow-up strike on Sept. 2 and stated he would have made the same call.
- He declined to promise release of unedited footage, citing protection of sources and methods, even as President Trump said he would support making the video public.
- After viewing classified video, lawmakers offered split reactions, and Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley told them there was no illegal “no quarter” order.
- NBC News reported that Bradley said Hegseth ordered the strike to kill all 11 on a target list, which officials argue differs from any directive to unlawfully kill survivors.
- The campaign has totaled at least 22 boat strikes with 86–87 killed, the administration labels targets as narco‑terrorists, and critics including Sen. Tammy Duckworth call the Sept. 2 re-strike a potential war crime.