On Thursday, military officials presented lawmakers with video footage of a second strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat during a closed-door session on Capitol Hill. Democratic Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, who serves as the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, expressed his deep concern, stating that what he witnessed was one of the most troubling experiences of his public service career. Himes described the scene as involving "two individuals in clear distress without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel, who are killed by the United States." This incident has raised significant questions about the legality and morality of military operations against drug trafficking in South America.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley, head of Special Operations Command, were present on Capitol Hill to brief leaders from the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees of both the House and Senate. These briefings were primarily focused on the Trump administration's campaign against alleged drug trafficking boats off the coast of South America, particularly highlighting the September 2 follow-on strike that has become a contentious issue among lawmakers.
Rep. Himes emphasized that any American who views the video will witness what appears to be the U.S. military attacking shipwrecked sailors. While he acknowledged that the individuals involved were engaged in drug trafficking, he pointed out that they were not in a position to continue their mission. "People will someday see this video," Himes stated, "and they will see that it shows, without the broader context, an attack on shipwrecked sailors." The footage of this controversial strike has not yet been released to the public, although President Donald Trump expressed his support for its eventual disclosure.
The Pentagon has faced significant criticism following a report by the Washington Post, which revealed that the second strike resulted in the deaths of two survivors from the initial missile attack. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified that the decision to carry out the follow-on strike was made by Admiral Bradley, who was in command of the mission. According to a source familiar with the situation, the survivors were attempting to return to the boat when it was struck again.
During the briefing, Bradley reassured lawmakers that there was no order to "kill them all" or to grant no quarter. This contradicts an anonymous source cited by the Washington Post, which claimed that Hegseth had issued a verbal order prior to the first strike to ensure no one was spared. Hegseth has vehemently denied this characterization of events. The situation has ignited bipartisan concerns among lawmakers, prompting pledges to investigate the legality of the strikes, particularly the implications of targeting survivors, which some Democrats have argued could amount to a war crime.
This military strike marked the beginning of the administration's aggressive campaign against alleged drug traffickers in the Southern Hemisphere, resulting in the destruction of over 20 boats and the deaths of more than 80 individuals. The operations have come under scrutiny due to the lack of Congressional authorization. However, the administration maintains that it possesses the legal authority to conduct these strikes, as it has classified drug cartels as terrorist organizations and asserts that U.S. troops are not in harm's way during these operations.