Democrats Urge Pentagon to Release Video of Second Caribbean Drug Boat Strike Amid Unlawfulness Accusations

Lawmakers Demand Transparency on Caribbean Strike

A growing chorus of U.S. Democrats has intensified pressure on the Trump administration to release video footage of a controversial second strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea. The incident, which occurred on September 2, 2025, involved a follow-on attack that reportedly killed two survivors clinging to the wreckage of a vessel previously hit by military forces. Lawmakers and legal experts have raised serious concerns, alleging the deadly attack was unlawful and could constitute a war crime.

The initial strike on the suspected drug boat resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals. However, it is the subsequent strike on the two survivors that has drawn intense scrutiny. Critics argue that targeting shipwrecked survivors violates the laws of war.

Classified Briefings and Conflicting Accounts

Several Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Representative Jim Himes (D-CT), top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, were shown the video in classified briefings. Following these briefings, many expressed deep disturbance. Senator Reed stated he was 'deeply disturbed by what I saw this morning' and called for the Pentagon to release the complete, unedited footage. Representative Himes remarked that the footage showed the 'United States military attacking shipwrecked sailors — bad guys, bad guys, but attacking shipwrecked sailors.'

The controversy is further fueled by conflicting accounts regarding an alleged order to 'kill everybody.' The Washington Post reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave such an order. However, Admiral Frank M. Bradley, the special operations commander who oversaw the operation and ordered the second strike, testified to lawmakers that he received no such directive. Admiral Bradley maintained that the survivors were legitimate targets under the rules governing operations against narco-terrorists.

White House Defense and Republican Stance

The White House has defended the military's actions. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Admiral Bradley 'worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed, and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated.' She also confirmed that the reporting of a second strike was true, despite initial denials from President Donald Trump and Secretary Hegseth.

While Democrats largely advocate for the video's public release and further investigation, some Republicans have defended the strike's legality. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated the video showed 'nothing remarkable' and that the two survivors were 'not in a shipwrecked state' but rather 'sitting or standing on top of a capsized boat,' implying they remained a threat. President Trump has also indicated he has 'no problem' with releasing the video.

Ongoing Calls for Full Investigation

Democrats, including Congressman Pat Ryan, who is leading 19 House Armed Services Committee Democrats, continue to demand the release of all audio and video footage. They emphasize the need for transparency and a full accounting of the operation, particularly given the accusations of potential war crimes and the Pentagon's own manual prohibiting firing on shipwrecked individuals. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the Trump administration's aggressive counternarcotics campaign in the Caribbean, which has targeted alleged drug traffickers, including those associated with the Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department.