Scrutiny over boat attack widens as report says Pentagon knew about survivors before second strike

Pete Hegseth

The scrutiny over a US mission in the Caribbean Sea deepened on Thursday after the Associated Press reported that the Pentagon officials were aware that the survivors remained on a damaged boat before a second strike was ordered.

The individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, as reported by AP, said the justification for the follow-up strike was to ensure the alleged drug boat sank. The Trump administration has maintained that all 11 people aboard were killed.

One of the people familiar with the matter said it remains unclear who ordered the strikes and whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth played any role in authorizing them.

Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley, the commander the administration says directed the second attack, is expected to address that question during a classified congressional briefing on Thursday.

Hegseth has previously defended the handling of the mission, saying the events unfolded in the “fog of war.”

He said he did not witness survivors, adding that he “didn’t stick around” for the remainder of the operation.

The Defence Secretary is now under heightened scrutiny as legal experts and several lawmakers argue that killing survivors would violate the laws of armed conflict.

Meanwhile, Hegseth on Tuesday refuted claims that he personally saw survivors from an initial American strike on a suspected drug trafficking boat.

This comes amid mounting criticism over a second strike that reportedly killed men who were still alive in the water.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump, Hegseth said he had observed the first strike but left the scene soon after.

"I watched that first strike," he told reporters, adding, "I didn't stick around" because he had another meeting.