Survivors of boat collision did not call for help, Bradley informs lawmakers: Report

The two survivors of a boat strike in early September by the U.S. military did not attempt to radio for backup or appear to have any working communication devices following the strike on their vessel, according to Admiral Frank Bradley, head of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Bradley shared this information with lawmakers during a classified briefing on Thursday, as reported by CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Bradley, who was in charge of the U.S. militarys Caribbean operations during the September 2 attack, confirmed that the survivors were not in a position to make a distress call after their boat was hit. The attack, targeting a vessel allegedly involved in drug trafficking, was the first deadly military operation in the region as part of a U.S. counter-narcotics mission.

Following the initial strike, which resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, U.S. forces, under Bradley's direction, launched three additional attacks. The second strike resulted in the deaths of the last two survivors, and subsequent hits ultimately sank the vessel. Bradley's statements are part of ongoing discussions over the legality of these actions, as some military officials have argued that the survivors did not attempt to use a radio to request assistance.

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) later explained that the strikes were part of a strategy to ensure that any illicit drugs onboard were destroyed. The survivors' attempts to flip the boat and resume their mission were not deemed plausible due to the boats extensive damage, said Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.). Smith emphasized that the strike was authorized in part because it could not be determined whether all the drugs on board had been destroyed.

When Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) commented that the survivors were trying to recover the boat, Smith refuted this claim, explaining that only a small part of the boat remained above water after the first strike, making any recovery impossible.

In response to questions about the survivors' attempts to use a radio, Senator Cotton stated that he saw no evidence they did so, but emphasized that they did not appear to be incapacitated. He noted that one of the survivors even removed his shirt, suggesting they were not in distress.

Following the briefing, Representative Jim Himes (D-Conn.), a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, expressed his concern over the operation, stating that the video footage of the attack showed that the survivors were in distress and had no means to continue their mission. He described the event as deeply troubling, indicating that the survivors posed no significant threat to U.S. security.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) offered a contrasting view, supporting Cottons assessment that the survivors were attempting to salvage the boat and possibly signal other vessels for assistance. He noted that the boat was still carrying illicit narcotics, which may have been a factor in their efforts to continue their mission.

Author: Maya Henderson