
The US military's strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean on 2 September 2025 has ignited a fierce debate over accountability, with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly positioning Frank M. Bradley, then head of the elite Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), as the sole decision-maker responsible for the deadly follow-up attack that killed survivors.
In a blunt statement, Hegseth hailed Bradley as 'an American hero ... a true professional' with 'my 100% support', while the administration insisted the strike was lawful.