Additional US drug-boat attack intensifies scrutiny of Sept. 2 'survivor' assault

The United States military has conducted a fresh attack on a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in four fatalities on board. This action coincided with a classified briefing to Congress regarding a previous controversial strike that killed survivors from an earlier engagement.

New Operation in the Eastern Pacific

U.S. Southern Command announced Thursday that a unit called Southern Spear executed a "lethal kinetic strike" against a vessel in international waters. According to the command, the operation on December 4 was ordered under the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and targeted a vessel linked to a designated terrorist organization. Intelligence indicated the boat was transporting illegal narcotics along a known trafficking route.

The strike reportedly eliminated four male "narco-terrorists" aboard the vessel. A brief video clip released by Southern Command shows the missile impacting the boat. Pentagon officials described the mission as part of a broader effort to disrupt maritime drug-smuggling networks.

Congressional Briefings on the September 2 Strike

The new strike occurs as the Pentagon faces bipartisan scrutiny over a September 2 attack on another suspected drug boat in the Caribbean. In that operation, U.S. forces first struck the vessel and then launched additional missiles that killed remaining survivors. The incident has sparked debate about rules of engagement and international law.

Admiral Frank Bradley and General Dan Caine provided classified briefings to senior lawmakers, showing unedited footage of the initial attack and the follow-up strike. Bradley stated that there was no directive from Secretary Hegseth to "kill all" or refuse quarter, countering earlier reports suggesting otherwise.

Divided Reactions in Congress

Reactions among lawmakers differed. Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas and chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, defended the September 2 operation, describing it as lawful and targeting "narco-terrorists" whose drugs posed a deadly threat to Americans.

Democratic lawmakers, however, called the footage "deeply troubling" and urged its public release. Representative Jim Himes described witnessing two individuals in distress with a destroyed vessel, noting they were killed by U.S. forces.

Ongoing Campaign and Rising Toll

Reports indicate that the September 2 strike was part of an extended campaign targeting narcotics shipments at sea, with at least 21 vessels struck and 83 individuals killed across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. The December 4 operation adds to the toll, further intensifying calls for transparency and legal justification.

Some Democrats are demanding that Secretary Hegseth testify under oath and release the full September 2 video, but the administration has so far denied these requests while continuing the maritime strikes.

Author: Ethan Caldwell