Upcoming Briefing on Military Operations
The commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command is scheduled to meet with leaders of Congressional oversight committees on Thursday amid growing scrutiny over military actions in the Caribbean Sea targeting suspected drug traffickers.
Lawmakers from both parties are eager to hear from Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley regarding the “rules of engagement” that guided recent strikes against alleged drug boats and whether any actions breached international laws.
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, expressed his concerns, stating, “To me, it just demonstrates kind of a naivete of what we’re up against. Let’s face it, for forever, we’ve sort of accepted the cartel moving these drugs into the United States as normal, and it’s not normal.”
Some lawmakers have accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of potential war crimes following a second military strike in September that reportedly resulted in casualties among survivors after their boat was incapacitated.
The tactical video feed released by the government does not clarify whether individuals on the boat posed an ongoing threat during the strike.
President Trump has voiced his support for releasing the complete tactical video related to the incident.
Reactions among Senate Armed Services Committee Republicans vary regarding accusations against Hegseth and his department. Hegseth stated that Admiral Bradley made final decisions during the operations under review.
“I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since,” Hegseth affirmed in a post on social media.
The military community has reacted with humor and sarcasm towards Hegseth’s post, suggesting it may reflect more blame towards Admiral Bradley than genuine support.
The ongoing Congressional investigations into these strikes will directly involve Admiral Bradley rather than Secretary Hegseth, as committee members noted that Hegseth has not been scheduled for hearings regarding these incidents.
The specific details aren’t as much of a concern to Mr. Cornyn.“I’m not too concerned about the protocols and procedures. I’m more concerned with the result,” Cornyn stated.
Senator Markwayne Mullin described committee actions as standard oversight procedures. He emphasized that due to drug cartels being designated as terrorist organizations by both the White House and State Department, there should be no issue with operational protocols as long as they align with established rules.
The Geneva Conventions outline protections for non-combatants during conflicts.
