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U.S. Defense and State Secretaries to Testify on Controversial Caribbean Boat Strikes

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Congressional Hearings Scheduled for Dec 16 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials will appear before House and Senate committees on Dec 16 to answer questions about recent U.S. boat‑strike operations near Venezuela and the Caribbean [1]. Lawmakers are using the hearings to probe the rationale behind the attacks and assess compliance with U.S. policy [1]. The briefings occur as congressional investigations into the strikes intensify [1].

September 2 Strike Killed Two Boat Survivors U.S. military strike on Sept 2 targeted a vessel alleged to be smuggling cocaine in the Caribbean, and two people who climbed onto the damaged hull were killed [1]. The incident has sparked debate over whether the use of force was justified under the administration’s anti‑drug campaign [1]. Critics cite the timing and lack of warning as potential violations of the laws of war [1].

Monday Pacific Attack Resulted in Eight Deaths Late Monday, U.S. forces struck three additional boats in the eastern Pacific that were suspected of drug smuggling, killing eight people [1]. The operation was announced as part of the same anti‑drug campaign that included the September 2 strike [1]. Officials said the targets posed an imminent threat to U.S. interests [1].

Lawmakers Push for Release of Strike Footage Senate and House members added language to a military policy bill requiring the Pentagon to release video of the September 2 operation [1]. Lawmakers argue that public and congressional oversight depend on seeing whether the strike complied with the laws of war [1]. The demand reflects growing pressure to increase transparency of covert actions [1].

Legal Scholars Cite Potential War‑Law Violations Experts such as John Yoo and Michael Schmitt reference the Pentagon’s own law‑of‑war manual, which prohibits firing on shipwrecked persons, to argue the September 2 strike may have breached domestic and international rules [1]. They contend that the victims were non‑combatants attempting to board a damaged vessel [1]. Their analysis fuels calls for an independent investigation [1].

Republican Senators Divided on Legality Senator Jim Risch declared the boat attacks “absolutely, totally, and 100 % legal,” emphasizing lives saved as justification [1]. Senators Rand Paul and Thom Tillis said they need to understand the intelligence and legal basis before endorsing the actions [1]. The split highlights partisan disagreement over the administration’s unilateral use of force [1].

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Timeline

July 2024 – The U.S. Supreme Court rules that former President Donald Trump enjoys broad presidential immunity for official acts, effectively shielding him from prosecution over the 2025 Caribbean boat strikes[5].

Jan 2025 – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders a crackdown on traditional Pentagon reporters, replacing them with pro‑Trump influencers and citing “fake news,” a move that later draws criticism for limiting press access to military operations[16].

Sep 2, 2025 – U.S. forces launch a kinetic missile strike on a suspected Venezuelan‑linked drug boat off Trinidad, killing nine crew members and splitting the vessel; Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley later tells lawmakers the crew “was still in the fight”[7].

Sep 2, 2025 (41 min later) – A second “double‑tap” strike sinks the damaged hull, killing two survivors who were clinging to the wreck; Bradley says the men had no radio to call for help, while a Washington Post report alleges Hegseth gave a “kill‑them‑all” verbal order later denied by the secretary[7][28].

Oct 2025 – In a separate operation, U.S. forces rescue surviving crew members from a later boat strike and return them to their home countries, avoiding a follow‑up attack and prompting questions about the policy for detaining suspects[15].

Nov 2025 – The United Kingdom suspends intelligence sharing with the United States over concerns that the Caribbean strikes may violate international law[17].

Nov 2025 – A Colombian family files a complaint with the Inter‑American Commission on Human Rights over the death of fisherman Alejandro Carranza in a September strike, seeking reparations[5].

Nov 28‑29, 2025 – Media reports confirm the September 2 follow‑up strike killed the two survivors, prompting the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to announce “vigorous oversight” investigations[17].

Dec 1, 2025 – Hegseth publicly calls Bradley an “American hero,” defends the September 2 operation as lawful, and posts a parody “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists” image while Trump says he “wouldn’t have wanted” a second strike[22][24][23].

Dec 2, 2025 – The White House confirms Admiral Bradley ordered the second strike; Trump says he was unaware of the follow‑up, and Hegseth shifts responsibility to Bradley, describing the decision as made under “fog of war”[13][12][29].

Dec 3, 2025 – Pentagon officials acknowledge they knew survivors were still in the water after the first strike but proceeded with the second attack, citing the need to sink the vessel; a War Powers Resolution is introduced to halt unauthorized hostilities near Venezuela[20].

Dec 4, 2025 – Admiral Bradley testifies before House and Senate intelligence committees, describing the second strike as targeting combatants “still in the fight”; Rep. Jim Himes calls the unedited video “one of the most troubling scenes” he has seen, while Rep. Tom Cotton defends the legality of the action[8][10][19].

Dec 5, 2025 – Bradley tells lawmakers that the two men killed in the follow‑up strike could not radio for help, contradicting earlier defense claims that they were signaling for assistance[7].

Dec 6, 2025 – Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Hegseth defends the Caribbean counter‑drug strikes as a demonstration of “American resolve,” while acknowledging congressional calls for oversight of the September 2 “double‑tap”[6].

Dec 7, 2025 – Analysts note that Trump’s 2024 immunity ruling continues to protect senior officials, including Hegseth and Bradley, from criminal prosecution over the boat strikes[5].

Dec 8, 2025 – The administration revises its narrative on the September 2 vessel’s destination, shifting from a Caribbean route to a claim that the drugs were headed for the United States; Trump promises to release the full video, but Hegseth says the release will be “responsible” and delays it[4].

Dec 16, 2025 – Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other officials appear before House and Senate committees to answer questions about the September 2 strike, the October Pacific boat attacks that killed eight, and the demand for video evidence in a new military‑policy bill[25].

Future (post‑Dec 2025) – Congress plans to vote on legislation requiring the Pentagon to release unedited footage of the September 2 operation and to enforce stricter oversight of U.S. maritime strikes, while the War Powers Resolution seeks to limit unilateral use of force in the Caribbean and near Venezuela[25][20].

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