A senior United States Navy admiral faced intense questioning from lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Thursday following the emergence of a deeply disturbing video depicting a lethal military operation. The footage shows a so-called 'double tap' strike on a suspected Venezuelan drug boat, an incident that has prompted profound concern and allegations of potential war crimes.
Lawmaker's 'Profound Concern' Over Disturbing Footage
The classified briefing on December 4, 2025, was led by Navy Admiral Frank Bradley, who was in command at the time of the controversial mission. He was accompanied by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Dan Caine. The session was convened after Democratic Representative Jim Himes, the leading Democrat on the powerful House Intelligence Committee, viewed the video and described it as "one of the most troubling things" he had witnessed in his public service career.
Himes detailed the contents of the video, which captured a strike that occurred in September. He stated it showed a US attack on a suspected drug vessel, after which a second strike was launched. "You have two individuals in clear distress, without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel, who are killed by the United States," Himes said, summarising the harrowing sequence of events. This second strike on survivors is the core of the controversy, with critics arguing it may have crossed a legal and ethical line.
A Justified Action or a Potential War Crime?
The closed-door meeting took place amid a significant uproar, with the central question being whether the follow-up attack that killed the survivors of the initial strike could be classified as a war crime. Admiral Bradley's briefing aimed to provide the classified context and rationale behind the operational decisions made during the mission.
However, not all committee members shared Himes's alarm. Republican Representative Rick Crawford, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, offered a starkly different perspective. He stated he believed the second strike was justified. Crawford also clarified a point of command, indicating it was his understanding that Admiral Bradley himself gave the order for the second strike, not the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.
Repercussions and the Path Forward
The stark divide between senior lawmakers on the committee underscores the deep sensitivity and complex legal ramifications of the incident. The briefing is unlikely to be the final word on the matter, as calls for greater transparency and accountability are expected to grow. The episode raises serious questions about the rules of engagement in such operations and the mechanisms for oversight of lethal military force.
As the classified details remain behind closed doors, the political and diplomatic fallout continues. The visual evidence described by Congressman Himes has ignited a debate that touches on international law, military ethics, and congressional oversight of defence policy, ensuring this incident will remain under intense scrutiny in the days and weeks to come.
