Some lawmakers are demanding the release of video showing the second strike that killed survivors of an initial U.S. military attack last September against an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean.
Representative Jim Himes, who viewed the footage during a closed-door briefing, said the public needs to see it. “I think it’s really important that people see what it looks like when the full force of the United States military is turned on two guys who are clinging to a piece of wood and about to go under,” he said.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton said he is not opposed to releasing the video but defended the strikes, suggesting the actions were taken because the boat posed an ongoing threat. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also defended the administration’s efforts to target so-called “narco terrorists,” saying the second strike was justified because it was a link-up point for another potential boat and drugs were still present.
Critics pointed to comments by President Trump, who said, “I don’t know what they have, but whatever they have we’d certainly release, no problem.” Legal observers noted that under the law of armed conflict, if someone who has been struck continues to engage in hostilities or is armed and poses a threat, they may remain a legitimate target; if they are outside combat, attacking them could violate the laws of war.
The controversy has intensified scrutiny of the administration’s strikes after more than 80 people were reported killed. The debate over whether to make the classified video public continued as officials said reviews were underway.
Willie James Inman reported from the White House; Jericka Duncan also covered the story for CBS News.