The BareStory
Top military officials on Thursday briefed congressional committee leaders about a September 2 strike against an alleged drug boat near Venezuela. During the classified sessions, lawmakers were shown video footage of a second, follow-on strike against the vessel. The incident is part of a broader administration campaign targeting alleged drug traffickers in the Southern Hemisphere.
Lawmakers who viewed the footage offered conflicting descriptions of the event. Rep. Jim Himes called the video "deeply troubling," stating it showed the U.S. military attacking two "shipwrecked sailors" in clear distress. Conversely, Sen. Tom Cotton said he saw "nothing disturbing," asserting the video showed two survivors attempting to turn a drug-laden boat back over to "stay in the fight."
The legality of the follow-on strike has been questioned by members of Congress, prompting bipartisan vows to investigate. According to a source familiar with the matter, the second strike killed two survivors from an initial strike as they attempted to reboard the vessel. Some Democrats have accused that targeting survivors would constitute a war crime.
According to multiple lawmakers, Adm. Frank Bradley, head of Special Operations Command, testified that he was not ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to leave no survivors. Hegseth has also denied giving such an order and stated that the decision for the second strike was made by Bradley. The administration has maintained the strike was legal, arguing it has the authority to act since it has designated drug cartels as terrorist organizations. President Trump has stated he would support releasing the footage.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• The bipartisan investigation could lead to new policies or laws changing how the military conducts operations against groups designated as terrorist organizations.
• A potential release of the classified footage may trigger a public debate about government transparency surrounding military actions and their legality.
• The dispute over the strike's legality could affect future U.S. military strategies and funding for the administration's broader campaign against drug traffickers.
