Video footage shown in a closed-door intelligence briefing on Capitol Hill has sparked intense concern among lawmakers from both parties. The extended footage reveals a follow-up U.S. strike on surviving suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean.
The classified briefing was led by Admiral Frank Bradley, who presented lawmakers with a longer version of a Sept. 2 military operation. The video shows a second strike carried out after an initial blast destroyed a drug boat.
The Trump administration’s military campaign in the Caribbean has been underway for two months and has destroyed 14 vessels suspected of drug trafficking. More than 80 people have been killed during the operations.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing scrutiny after reports indicated that two individuals on the boat survived the initial blast before being killed in a second strike. The debate has raised the specter of a possible war crime.
House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-CT) said the briefing left him deeply disturbed. Himes told reporters that the footage was “one of the most troubling things” he has seen while serving in office.
He explained that the survivors were “in clear distress” with no ability to move the damaged vessel. According to Himes, they were still killed by the United States during the second strike.
Himes said he wants the full video released to the public, but he also expressed support for Bradley as a military leader. He said he believes the admiral “did the right thing” based on the information available at the time.
Bradley is expected to argue that the survivors were still engaged in drug-smuggling activity and remained legitimate targets. Pentagon officials reportedly concluded that the individuals may have been communicating with other boats and attempting to salvage drug cargo.
Hegseth has said he only viewed footage of the initial strike before briefing White House officials and has defended Bradley as one of the Navy’s finest admirals. Reports have also revealed that Hegseth once told troops to “kill everybody,” intensifying scrutiny, per the Daily Mail.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called the situation “an incredibly serious matter.” He warned that the incident could expose U.S. personnel to legal consequences if wrongdoing is confirmed.
Republicans have supported a full review but have not publicly demanded documents related to orders given during the operation. Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker (R) said investigations will “be done by the numbers” and will uncover the “ground truth.”
Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) argued that Hegseth bears responsibility even if he did not personally order the second strike. Blumenthal said the defense secretary “was in the loop” and issued orders that led to the deaths of survivors.
Lawmakers are requesting the full video of the strike, written operational records, and intelligence that identified the vessel as a legitimate target. They are also seeking clarification on the rules that determined who was considered a combatant.
The Pentagon inspector general is expected to release a partially redacted report on Hegseth’s use of the Signal messaging app to share military strike information. The findings could influence how Congress evaluates his role in the incident.
