A senior Democratic congressman has labelled classified footage of a US military strike in the Caribbean, which killed two survivors clinging to wreckage, as one of the most disturbing scenes he has witnessed in public service.
Congressional Outcry Over 'Extrajudicial' Attack
The incident occurred on 2 September as a follow-up to an initial strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel off the coast of Venezuela. While former President Donald Trump posted video of the first attack on his Truth Social platform, no footage of the second engagement has been made public. After a classified briefing, Congressman Jim Himes, the ranking member on the House intelligence committee, expressed profound concern on Thursday.
His assessment comes as human rights advocates and policy experts assert the operation constitutes murder under international law. Sarah Yager, Washington director at Human Rights Watch, argued the US cannot legally kill individuals on such boats, stating, "The president, even though he says it’s a conflict, he can’t just make up a conflict."
The Pentagon's Defence and Mounting Scrutiny
When questioned about the strike on survivors, Trump stated he supported the decision to destroy the boats, claiming those piloting them were guilty of trying to kill Americans. Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the action, citing the "fog of war" and claiming he did not see any survivors in the footage.
However, reporting by The Washington Post indicated Hegseth had issued a verbal directive to ensure no survivors remained. This week has seen intensifying bipartisan scrutiny. Republican Senator Thom Tillis stated that if reports were substantiated, the strike violated ethical and legal standards, adding, "Whoever made that order needs to get the hell out of Washington."
Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker confirmed his panel expects to receive complete audio and video documentation as part of an investigation.
Calls for Transparency and Legal Precedent
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has demanded Hegseth release the footage to clarify whether an impermissible strike occurred. He also announced plans to file a war powers resolution to block further deployments to Venezuela if Trump orders additional strikes.
Marcus Stanley of the Quincy Institute warned of a dangerous precedent, suggesting the logic could extend to domestic law enforcement. "The American people should get as much transparency and information here to judge what’s being done in their name as possible," he said.
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stated that Admiral Frank Bradley, who commanded the operation, acted within his authority and the law. The administration disputes reports that Hegseth personally ordered all occupants killed.
Human Rights Watch has called for a congressional investigation into the entire campaign of strikes, which between early September and mid-November have resulted in 83 people killed across 21 US military operations.
