Pete Hegseth supports Adm. Frank Bradley who issued second boat strike

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supported Navy Admiral Frank Bradley, who ordered a second strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean Sea on September 2.

“Let’s make one thing very clear: Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and he has my 100% support,” Hegseth said. said on monday social platform

“America is lucky to have such people protecting us. When @DeptofWar says we have the support of our warriors – we mean it.”

White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt Confirmed on first Monday Hegseth authorized a second attack, which Bradley then ordered, killing two survivors of the initial attack on the boat. Washington Post reported on friday The Secretary of Defense instructed military officers to kill everyone on the ship when ordering the operation.

“Adam Bradley acted well within his authority and within the law to destroy the boat and eliminate the threat to the United States,” Leavitt told reporters Monday.

The Trump administration has said, without providing public evidence, that 11 “narco-terrorists” were killed in the attacks. The attacks were the first in a series of operations that authorities say have killed more than 80 people, carried out by the military on ships in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

President Trump said Sunday that Hegseth “did not order the death” of the two survivors.

“The first attack was very deadly, it was fine, and if there were two people around. But [Hegseth] “That didn’t happen,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “I have a lot of confidence in him.”

Bradley, who was head of Joint Special Operations Command at the time of the attack, was promoted to head of US Special Operations Command in October.

Senator Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on Monday that he has spoken to Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on the issue and expects to speak to Bradley this week. CNN reported,