Democrats call for release of classified video of deadly strike on alleged drug boat in Caribbean
At least 11 people were killed in the strike carried out by US military on September 2, including the two men who were allegedly killed after a second strike was ordered.
US military struck a boat in the Caribbean on September 2, as part of its ongoing military campaign against drug-trafficking networks. (Photo: X/ @WhiteHouse)
Members of the Democratic Party have pushed for the release of classified video of the US military’s first operation targeting a boat allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean on September 2, an attack which is facing several accusations due to its follow-up strike which killed two survivors, The Guardian reported.
📹 DESTROYED: Confirmed DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE navigating towards the United States on a well-known narcotrafficking transit route.
"Under my watch, the United States of America will not tolerate narcoterrorists trafficking illegal drugs, by land or by sea." – President Trump pic.twitter.com/N4TAkgPHXN
However, Admiral Frank Bradley of the US Navy refuted the report and told the lawmakers on Thursday that there was no such order from Hegseth and Pentagon defended the legality of the attack.
Countering the Republican narrative, Democratic Senator from California Adam Schiff told NBC News on Sunday, “If the Pentagon and our defense secretary are so proud of what they’re doing, let the American people see that video.”
“Let the American people see two people standing on a capsized boat, or sitting on a capsized boat, and deliberately killed and decide for themselves whether they’re proud of what the country is doing. I can’t imagine people would be proud of that,” Schiff added.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he has “no problem” in releasing the video footage of the strike but defence secretary Hegseth, despite the president’s comment, declined to commit to releasing the classified footage to the public. Hegseth said he might not release the footage as he doesn’t want to “compromise sources and methods”. “We’re reviewing the process, and we’ll see,” he added.
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The Trump administration has so far carried out 22 known strikes on vessels allegedly trafficking drugs in the Caribbean and off the Pacific coast. The total number of people killed in the strikes has reached 87 till now.
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US military struck a boat in the Caribbean on September 2, as part of its ongoing military campaign against drug-trafficking networks. (Photo: X/ @WhiteHouse) 
