A senior US Democrat has described classified footage of a military strike in the Caribbean as "one of the most troubling scenes" witnessed in his public service career, intensifying bipartisan calls for a full investigation. Congressman Jim Himes, the ranking member of the House intelligence committee, made the remarks after viewing video of a 2 September follow-up attack that killed two men clinging to wreckage off the coast of Venezuela.
Mounting Scrutiny Over 'Fog of War' Claims
The operation, part of a campaign targeting alleged drug-smuggling vessels, has drawn fierce criticism from human rights advocates and policy experts. The controversy centres on the second strike, which targeted survivors after an initial attack was publicly promoted by former President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform. No footage of the follow-up engagement has been released to the public.
When questioned about the decision to target survivors, Trump stated he supported destroying the boats, alleging those piloting them were guilty of trying to kill Americans. Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth cited the "fog of war," claiming he did not see any survivors in the footage he reviewed. However, The Washington Post reported that Hegseth had issued a verbal directive to ensure no survivors remained.
Legal Experts Decry 'Extrajudicial' Killings
Legal and human rights experts are unequivocal in their condemnation. Marcus Stanley of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft stated the strikes constitute potential war crimes, describing them as a "totally extrajudicial process." Sarah Yager, Washington director at Human Rights Watch, rejected the administration's framing of the strikes as military operations in a conflict. "The president, even though he says it’s a conflict, he can’t just make up a conflict. There isn’t one," she asserted, noting war must be declared by Congress.
Roger Wicker, Republican chair of the Senate armed services committee, confirmed his panel expects to receive complete audio and video documentation as part of its probe. Republican Senator Thom Tillis warned that if reports are substantiated, "whoever made that order needs to get the hell out of Washington."
Calls for Transparency and Congressional Action
The White House has defended the operation, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating Admiral Frank Bradley acted within his authority and the law. The administration disputes reports that Hegseth personally ordered all occupants killed.
Despite this, pressure is mounting. 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 with senators Tim Kaine and Rand Paul to block deployment of US troops to Venezuela if Trump orders additional strikes.
Human Rights Watch has called on Congress to investigate the entire campaign, which has seen 83 people killed across 21 US military strikes between early September and mid-November. Emily Tripp of Airwars, a civilian-harm monitor, urged greater transparency, asking what considerations were made for shipwrecked survivors and why force was chosen over search and rescue.
As Admiral Bradley provided classified briefings to congressional committees, experts warned of a dangerous precedent. Marcus Stanley posed a stark question: "What’s the next step?" He argued the American public deserves full transparency to judge what is being done in their name.
