The Navy admiral who oversaw lethal strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in September told lawmakers that the vessel wasn’t headed to the U.S., countering President Donald Trump’s claims.

Frank Bradley said in a Thursday briefing that the boat was heading to transfer drugs to a larger boat, which was bound for Suriname, CNN reported Friday, citing two sources with direct knowledge of his comments. According to the report, Bradley said the drugs could have ultimately ended up heading toward the U.S. from Suriname, which warranted striking the boat, he said.

Yet drug trafficking routes that go through Suriname are mainly for European markets, according to U.S. drug enforcement officials.

In a Truth Social post shortly after the strike, Trump, 79, wrote: “The strike occurred while th

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