The U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, announced on Tuesday that the Pentagon would not make public the unedited footage of a strike that resulted in the deaths of two survivors following an initial assault on a vessel suspected of transporting cocaine in the Caribbean. Hegseth mentioned that members of the U.S. House and Senate armed services committees would have the chance to review the video this week, but it was unclear if all congressional members would be granted access, despite a defense policy bill calling for its release to Congress.
Speaking to reporters after a closed-door briefing with senators, Hegseth stated, “We will not disclose a full, unedited top-secret video of the incident to the general public.” Top cabinet officials of President Donald Trump, overseeing national security matters, defended the rapid increase in U.S. military action and lethal boat strikes near Venezuela during a session on Capitol Hill. However, lawmakers expressed concerns about the broader objectives of the operation.
Senate Democrats criticized the brevity of the briefing and noted that Trump administration officials seemed unprepared to address inquiries. Hegseth, alongside U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others, briefed members of the House and Senate regarding the military strike in September that resulted in the deaths of two survivors. They portrayed the campaign as successful in thwarting drug trafficking efforts aimed at the U.S.
Rubio emphasized that the campaign was a counter-drug initiative aimed at dismantling terrorist organizations operating in the region and jeopardizing American security. Lawmakers focused on the September 2 attack on survivors as they questioned the rationale behind the broader U.S. military buildup that appeared to target Venezuela. Recent military operations in the Pacific Ocean indicated a growing U.S. presence in the region.
Lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of clarity on Trump’s objectives concerning Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the potential deployment of U.S. forces in the South American nation. The closed-door discussions coincided with the U.S. bolstering its naval presence, conducting military flights near Venezuelan airspace, and seizing an oil tanker as part of its strategy against Maduro, who alleges that the U.S. aims to oust him from power.
Despite the lack of congressional authorization for actions against Venezuela, lawmakers critical of the military interventions are advancing war powers resolutions for potential voting. The administration’s unilateral approach without congressional approval has raised concerns about the legality and justification of military actions, particularly regarding the strike that resulted in civilian casualties.
Lawmakers are demanding the release of video footage from the initial operation to gain insights into the campaign’s decision-making process. Some legislators view the footage as evidence of flaws in the operation’s rationale and urge transparency in assessing the military actions. Republican Senator Rand Paul criticized the campaign, emphasizing the importance of due process and evidence before resorting to lethal measures.
Hegseth informed lawmakers about the ongoing deliberation on releasing the footage. While some Republicans support the campaign, others question the legality and effectiveness of the military operations. Lawmakers have scrutinized the details of the September 2 strike, highlighting inconsistencies in the administration’s justifications and narratives surrounding the incident.
The evolving explanations for the attack have spurred debates on the legality of the military actions and the overarching objectives in dealing with Venezuela. Officials are expected to provide further insights during classified briefings with congressional committees to address concerns about adherence to international laws and the rationale behind the military campaign.
