U.S. Admiral Denies 'No Quarter' Order in Deadly Drug Raid

A senior U.S. military commander told lawmakers he never received an order to give "no quarter"—or take no prisoners—during a 2023 drug interdiction that left several suspects dead. Admiral Daryl Caudle, who leads U.S. Northern Command, made the statement during a closed-door congressional briefing. Lawmakers viewed a video of the operation in the Caribbean Sea. "The Admiral was very clear that he was given no such order, to give no quarter or to kill them all," said Senator Tom Cotton, summarizing the testimony. The incident involved a U.S. Coast Guard team operating from a Navy ship. After a suspected drug smuggling boat failed to stop, the team opened fire, killing multiple people. The briefing addressed ongoing congressional inquiries into the rules of engagement for such missions. The military's internal investigation into the event remains ongoing.