Pentagon Confirmed Survivors After Initial September 2 Attack The U.S. military struck a suspected drug‑smuggling boat in the Caribbean on September 2, killing several crew members, but officials learned that some individuals remained alive in the water after the first hit [1][2]. Two anonymous sources told both outlets that the Pentagon’s own assessments identified these survivors before any further action was taken. The initial strike was publicly reported by the Trump administration as having eliminated all eleven people aboard, a claim later contradicted by survivor testimony.

Second Strike Executed to Sink Vessel While Survivors Remained Despite knowledge of living persons, a follow‑on strike was launched later the same day to ensure the damaged vessel sank [1][2]. The justification given was that the boat still posed a threat and needed to be destroyed, even though the presence of survivors was confirmed. This second attack occurred without a clear, publicly documented authorization chain, raising questions about decision‑making protocols.

Administration Maintains All Onboard Were Killed, Survivors Dispute The administration continues to assert that every person on the boat died in the combined strikes [1][2]. Survivors who later surfaced refute this, providing accounts of being rescued from the water after the first hit. Legal scholars cited by both reports argue that the claim of total fatalities conflicts with evidence and may breach peacetime legal standards.

Senior Officials Named in Authorization Chain Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley are identified as the senior officials who authorized and executed the second strike [1][2]. Bradley is scheduled to brief Congress in a classified session, while Hegseth’s role remains under investigation by both House and Senate Armed Services committees. Their involvement links the operational decision directly to top‑level civilian and military leadership.

Congressional and International Oversight Intensify The House and Senate Armed Services committees have opened bipartisan investigations, and a War Powers Resolution has been introduced to curb unauthorized hostilities in the region [2]. A classified briefing for Admiral Bradley is set for Thursday, and a formal complaint has been filed with the Inter‑American Commission on Human Rights concerning a separate September strike that killed a Colombian fisherman [2]. Legal experts warn the follow‑on attack may violate international human‑rights conventions.