Overview
- White House officials confirmed a U.S. admiral, acting under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s authority, ordered a double‑impact operation striking the vessel twice.
- New York Times reporting says the aircraft was painted to appear civilian with weapons concealed in its fuselage, and that two initial survivors were killed in a second strike.
- Subsequent maritime operations have used recognizably military platforms, including MQ‑9 Reaper drones, according to the reports.
- The September 2 action was one of more than 35 strikes in international waters, with at least 123 people reported killed across the campaign.
- The Pentagon says its aircraft and weapons underwent legal review, Congress has raised questions in closed briefings, and the U.S. has not publicly presented evidence tying those killed to drug trafficking.