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Good morning to our coverage of American politics. The executive branch has clarified that a senior US Navy commander directed a additional wave of attacks on an purported Venezuelan narcotics boat on the second day of September, not Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Defense Secretary Hegseth approved Vice Admiral Bradley to carry out these kinetic strikes. Admiral Bradley operated completely within his authority and the law overseeing the engagement to guarantee the ship was neutralized and the risk to the United States of America was removed.

During allegations that the Pentagon leader had ordered a atrocity, White House press secretary Leavitt declared that Hegseth authorised the attacks but did not issue an order to “kill everybody”.

When asked by a correspondent to clarify how the action was not an instance of a war crime, Leavitt again supported the actions, saying it was “conducted in global seas and in keeping with the international humanitarian law”.

Central Commander to Brief Congress

US Navy vice admiral Frank ‘Mitch’ Bradley, who was head of Special Operations Command at the time of the attack, will provide a confidential report to congressional members on the coming Thursday.

Hegseth vowed his support for Bradley in a social media post which cast the decision as one made by the commander, not him.

“Let’s make one thing crystal clear: Admiral Mitch Bradley is an heroic figure, a highly skilled officer, and has my full support. I support him and the combat decisions he has made – on the 2 September operation and all others since. America is fortunate to have such people safeguarding us.”

Congressional Inquiries Announced

Each of the Senate and lower chamber military oversight panel chairpersons have declared probes into the claims, with few details currently made public on who or what was on board the ship.

Since September, US aerial bombardments have hit suspected contraband-running boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, killing at least 83 persons.

The sitting executive branch has provided no solid documentation to support the claims behind its deadly actions, and numerous experts have doubted the lawfulness of the missions.

Expanded Geopolitical Tensions

Meanwhile, the news that Trinidad and Tobago has approved the installation of a US military surveillance radar has fueled concerns that the Caribbean nations could be pulled into the growing conflict between the US and Venezuela.

Despite an ostensible inclination to keep diplomatic channels open, strains between the US and Venezuela remain high as US strikes against suspected drug boats in the region have been ongoing for an extended period.

The situation continues to be fluid, with further updates and congressional review expected in the near future.