Overview
- The Pentagon said the Dec. 4 attack in the eastern Pacific was carried out at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth against a vessel it described as operated by a designated terrorist group and carrying illicit narcotics.
- Southern Command called it the 22nd strike since early September, with reported fatalities across the campaign reaching at least 86 people.
- In closed briefings, Adm. Frank Bradley told House and Senate members he did not receive an order to kill survivors of the Sept. 2 operation, while reactions to the video ranged from “righteous strikes” to “one of the most troubling” things seen in public service.
- Lawmakers said they were not shown written orders or audio recordings and pressed for the release of unedited footage as legal scholars argued the administration has not presented a defensible domestic or international legal basis.
- Briefing accounts indicated the Sept. 2 survivors lacked communications devices, and Hegseth drew attention with a social media message saying “Just sunk another narco boat” after Southern Command announced the latest strike.