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Congress launches inquiry into controversial Caribbean boat strike
Lawmakers in Washington have vowed to investigate a U.S. military operation in September that targeted a suspected drug trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, following a Washington Post report that raised questions about the legality and oversight of the strike. The incident has reignited debate over the Trump administration's use of lethal force against narcotics traffickers, with bipartisan concern giving way to familiar partisan divisions.
Partisan reactions emerge after classified briefing
Initial unease among lawmakers on Thursday morning shifted by afternoon, after senior members of Congress reviewed classified footage and heard testimony from Admiral Frank Bradley, who oversaw the operation. While Republicans defended the strike and praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Democrats condemned the attack and called for further scrutiny.
Republican Congressman Mike Turner acknowledged widespread concern among colleagues, stating in a television interview that lawmakers were questioning the accuracy of information provided by the administration. However, after a briefing from General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, no evidence emerged to support the Post's claim that Hegseth had ordered, "kill them all."
Dispute over legality and morality of anti-drug campaign
The strike in question involved two separate attacks on the same vessel. The second strike killed two survivors who were clinging to the wreckage of the first. Since September, the U.S. military has conducted at least 22 similar operations, resulting in over 80 deaths.
Democrats, including House Intelligence Committee member Jim Himes, described the second strike as "deeply, deeply troubling." Himes told reporters, "The fact is that we killed two people who were in deep distress and had neither the means nor obviously the intent to continue their mission."
"I saw two survivors trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs bound for the United States back over so they could stay in the fight,"
Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas
Cotton defended the strikes as "entirely lawful and needful," highlighting the stark partisan divide over the administration's broader anti-narcotics strategy, which designates traffickers as "terrorist organizations" and authorizes lethal force without external legal oversight.
Hegseth's position appears secure-for now
Despite initial speculation that the controversy could weaken Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, his standing appeared more secure by Thursday evening. An inspector general report largely cleared him of wrongdoing in a separate scandal involving the disclosure of classified information over an unsecured messaging app. While the report found he had put military personnel at risk, it concluded he did not transmit secret information, as he claimed to have declassified it.
President Donald Trump has indicated support for releasing video of the second strike, which the Pentagon has done for other Caribbean operations in recent months. If the footage aligns with Democratic descriptions, it could sway public opinion, which has so far mirrored the partisan divide in Congress.
Uncertainty lingers as public awaits further evidence
For now, the American public is left to weigh conflicting accounts from lawmakers and the Washington Post's reporting. With no immediate resolution in sight, the debate over the administration's military tactics in the Caribbean is likely to persist, keeping Hegseth in the spotlight.
