Democrats express concern over video showing US strike on Caribbean drug boat, Republicans justify action

Senior Democratic lawmakers expressed concern on Thursday over a video showing survivors of a US military strike on a Caribbean drug vessel in distress, while Republican officials defended the action as lawful.

The attack, which occurred on September 2, targeted a vessel suspected of smuggling drugs and resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals. Some survivors of the initial strike were killed in a subsequent operation, raising questions about potential violations of international law and the responsibility of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Admiral Frank Bradley, formerly head of the Joint Special Operations Command, and Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed lawmakers and presented an unedited video of the follow-up strike. Representative Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, described the footage as "one of the most troubling things" he had seen, noting that survivors were left without means of escape. Bradley reportedly confirmed that he had not received a "kill them all" order.

Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the video "deeply disturbing" and urged for its public release, stating it confirmed his fears regarding the Trump administration's military actions. In contrast, Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas praised the operation, explaining that the survivors appeared to be attempting to recover drugs and could have been aided by other vessels.

The strikes are part of a broader US campaign targeting drug smuggling in the Caribbean, with more than 20 operations this year killing over 80 people. While the US classifies these actions as part of a fight against armed drug cartels, critics argue that targeting incapacitated individuals could constitute murder under domestic and international law. The Department of Defenses Law of War Manual explicitly prohibits attacks on shipwrecked or helpless combatants.

Hegseth defended the follow-up strike, claiming it was conducted in the "fog of war" and aimed to neutralize the threat. President Donald Trump expressed general support for the operation, though he stated he was unaware of the second strike.

The Pentagon has not publicly commented on the incident. Meanwhile, a Pentagon Inspector General report criticized Hegseths use of the messaging app Signal for transmitting sensitive operational details, stating it could have jeopardized US missions and personnel. Prominent Democrats argue this demonstrates a lack of judgment necessary for overseeing military operations.

Author: Natalie Monroe