Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, left, and Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley, right. Hegseth wrote on X that "Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support," and, "I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since." (Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu via Getty Images; USSOCOM)
The Sept. 2 attack was the Trump administration’s first use of military force against a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean and the only one in which survivors are known to have been targeted and killed in a follow-up operation, according to the Journal.
The defense officials told the newspaper that the Coast Guard rescued two survivors of another strike in mid-October on a submersible because they were deemed unable to fight.
The White House said Monday that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth authorized the second strike, but Bradley ordered and directed it. At the time of the strike, Bradley was serving as the commander of Joint Special Operations Command, which falls under U.S. Special Operations Command.
A U.S. military drone strike is seen targeting a suspected drug-carrying submersible in the Caribbean. (Credit: President Donald Trump via Truth Social)
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"Adm. Bradley made the correct decision to ultimately sink the boat and eliminate the threat," Hegseth added during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy contributed to this report.
Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/commander-september-attack-believed-survivors-were-continuing-drug-run-report-says