Senior Democrats in the United States Congress are intensifying pressure on the Pentagon to publicly release video evidence of a deadly military strike on an alleged drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, an incident now mired in allegations of illegality.
Mounting Pressure Over Controversial Attack
The fatal incident occurred on 2 September, when a US military operation targeted a boat suspected of narcotics trafficking. According to reports, the initial strike was followed by a second attack approximately an hour later, which killed two individuals who were reportedly clinging to the wreckage. In total, eleven people lost their lives.
The operation has drawn intense criticism and accusations of potential war crimes, particularly after a Washington Post report claimed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an order to "kill them all". Admiral Frank Bradley of the US Navy, who oversaw the mission, later told lawmakers that no such command was given, and the Pentagon has consistently defended the strike's legality. However, independent experts have suggested this legal defence is precarious.
Calls for Transparency and Public Scrutiny
Leading the charge for transparency is Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California. During an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, Schiff challenged the administration's stance. "If the Pentagon and our defence secretary are so proud of what they're doing, let the American people see that video," he stated. "Let the American people see two people standing on a capsized boat... and deliberately killed and decide for themselves whether they're proud of what the country is doing."
Other Democratic lawmakers who have viewed the classified footage have described it as deeply disturbing. Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called it "one of the most troubling scenes I've ever seen in my time in public service". He emphasised that the two men in the second strike were "in clear distress without any means of locomotion" on a destroyed vessel.
Representative Adam Smith of Washington state echoed this, suggesting on ABC's This Week that the Pentagon's reluctance to release the tape speaks volumes. "It's pretty clear they don't want to release this video," Smith said. "They don't want people to see it because it's very, very difficult to justify."
Administration Response and Republican Defence
While former President Donald Trump has said he has no issue with releasing the video, Defence Secretary Hegseth has been non-committal. When pressed on the matter, Hegseth responded, "We're reviewing the process, and we'll see," citing concerns about protecting sensitive information.
In contrast, some Republican figures have defended the operation. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated he personally did not oppose the video's release but downplayed its significance. "It's not gruesome. I didn't find it distressing or disturbing," Cotton said on Meet the Press. He argued the boat remained a "valid target" and disputed characterisations of the victims as helpless, stating they were not merely adrift on a plank of wood.
The controversy continues to engulf Secretary Hegseth and the Pentagon, as lawmakers and the public demand accountability and clarity over the rules of engagement that led to this deadly encounter in international waters.
