The White House on Monday said Adm. Frank M. “Mitch” Bradley was responsible for the deadly and controversial second strike on a Venezuelan boat suspected of carrying drugs through international waters on Sept. 2.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Adm. Bradley, the U.S. Special Operations Command’s commander, issued the order.
“And he was well within his authority to do so,” she said.
The comments effectively distanced Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from the controversy.
Lawmakers in both parties want a full accounting of the episode, in which the military appeared to conduct a second strike to eliminate two boatmen who survived the initial strike. They are worried the incident could amount to a war crime.
President Trump this year designated Venezuelan drug traffickers as narco-terrorists subject to lethal force, resulting in a series of deadly strikes on boats in the Caribbean.
“Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law. He directed the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat of narco-terrorists to the United States was completely eliminated,” Ms. Leavitt said.
She rejected that Mr. Hegseth ordered the second strike, as reported by The Washington Post. And she repeatedly said the strike was in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict, which governs warfare to limit suffering and protect victims.
Mr. Trump late Sunday said Mr. Hegseth denied giving the order for a second strike. The president said he believed him.
The president will be hosting his national security team in the Oval Office on Monday, Ms. Leavitt confirmed, and Venezuela will be discussed.
Ms. Leavitt said Mr. Hegseth has been transparent with lawmakers reviewing the matter.
