The two survivors of a strike against an alleged drug boat were trying to salvage some of the cargo before being hit a second time, a source familiar with the matter told CBS News.
The source added that the survivors appeared to be communicating with others, and that there were more boats nearby that could have picked up the cargo.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has been under intense scrutiny since news about the follow-on strike surfaced, and allegations that he ordered all people aboard the boat be killed, reposted the report on his social media account.
He also echoed a message by NewsNation's Batya Ungar-Sargon, who wrote: "Exactly as I predicted: New reporting suggests that in full consultation with JAG officers, the boat was determined to still be a legitimate military target after the initial strike. The (bipartisan!) "war crime" hysteria is just another Russiagate Hoax."
Exactly as I predicted: New reporting suggests that in full consultation with JAG officers, the boat was determined to still be a legitimate military target after the initial strike. The (bipartisan!) "war crime" hysteria is just another Russiagate Hoax. https://t.co/2DwJRU45fZ
— Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) December 4, 2025
The White House confirmed this week that a second strike had taken place, but denied Hegseth ordered it. Hegseth said he didn't stay after the first strike, but defended the legality of the second one and said the decision was made by the mission's commander, Admiral Mitch Bradley.
However, previous reports had noted that Pentagon officials are concerned that the Trump administration is throwing Bradley under the bus. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Bradley "worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed."
The statement, the outlet added, left Defense Department officials angry at the possibility that Hegseth won't take responsibility for any legal consequence that could stem from the attack. "This is 'protect Pete' bullsh-t," one official told the outlet. Some civilian staff are considering leaving the administration, it added.
Several lawmakers have come out to criticize Hegseth, and Republican-led Committees in the House and the Senate announced they will conduct respective investigations regarding the incident.
Moreover, Republican Rep. Don Bacon said that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should leave his post if it's confirmed that he was involved in the decision.
"We don't kill two survivors who are not posing an imminent threat to anybody. I want to make sure i get the facts, that what's being reported is true. Somebody should held accountable. It should be at the top, not the bottom," Bacon said, noting that officials who followed orders should not be the ones held accountable for the episode. He made the claim before the most recent reports.
Sen Rand Paul also slammed him before the most recent report, saying it seems like the administration is "trying to pin the blame" for the potential consequences of the follow-on attack on "somebody else."
"Hegseth said he had no knowledge of this and it did not happen, that it was fake news and didn't happen. And then the next day, from the podium at the White House, they're saying it did happen," Paul said.
"So either he was lying to us on Sunday or he's incompetent and didn't know it happened. Do we think there's any chance that on Sunday the secretary of defense didn't know there was a second strike?" Paul added.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
