Secret video released in Congress confirms US kills two ‘drug cartels’ on boat in second attack

American Admiral Frank Bradleyresponsible for the US military’s attacks in the Caribbean against alleged drug boats that killed more than 80 people, denied on Thursday before the House of Representatives that he had ordered the killing of survivors of the first recorded bombing on September 2 after instructions from Pete HegsethMinister of War. However, the video showing the episode raised doubts about it Possible war crime.

Images shown to members of Congress show that the first explosion destroyed most of the boat, causing a large column of smoke. After half an hour, the vision returned Two of the eleven alleged drug dealers were still alive They tried to stay afloat by clinging to the hull while trying to turn it over, to no avail. Then Admiral Bradley gave the order for a new attack and the men disappeared.

Bradley appeared in Closed meeting The Senate and House Armed Services committees investigate the legality of military actions within the president’s anti-drug campaign Donald Trump. The admiral denied receiving any written or verbal instructions telling him to “kill them all”, denying reports that Hegseth wanted no survivors.

The US military attacked a ship loaded with drugs allegedly coming from Venezuela

This meeting was held after Democratic lawmakers, as well as some Republicans, asked the administration for clarification after the matter was published The Washington Post It was reported that in that bombing, in which all eleven crew members were killed, a second attack was carried out to kill two survivors.

According to the American press, the Democrats left the meetings terrified, and promised to move forward with initial questions from Congress regarding… Legitimacy of bombings. Some Republicans loyal to the Trump administration defended the operation with the same arguments used by the president, who has been claiming for months that drugs transported through the Caribbean are responsible for the deaths of thousands of American citizens.

Legitimate goals

Democratic legislator Jim Hymes He described what he saw during the meeting as “one of the most disturbing things” he had witnessed in his life, and confirmed that the video of the second attack showed two people in danger being “killed” by the United States. Republican Tom CottonThe chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee defended the admiral’s position and said that if he were in his place, he would have ordered multiple attacks.

according to New York TimesDuring the briefings, military officials explained that a second attack was ordered due to the possibility that part of the boat was still afloat because it still contained packages of cocaine. They thought the survivors could return to Venezuela or so Another ship they contact could recover the drugsAlthough they did not provide any evidence to support these claims.

In response to a question from reporters on Wednesday at the White House. Trump said the Pentagon would release the video The second bombing, although he downplayed the controversy, as did Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who claimed that he did not directly supervise the attack.

The September 2 operation marked the beginning of the Trump administration’s deadly military campaign against drug trafficking in the Caribbean, resulting in the sinking of boats and semi-submarines supposedly transporting drugs. So far, more than two dozen boats have been attacked, leaving nearly 90 people dead. The army announced the latest episode on Thursday, adding four more deaths.

A defense official explained to the network NBC News Which Admiral Bradley considered the survivors to be identified Legitimate military targets He could classify them as “narco-terrorists.” Democrats and other legal experts argue that drug boat crew members cannot be treated in that category.

The White House links the ships attacked to the Aragua Train or the Sun Cartel, elusive criminal groups that originated in Venezuela and have been designated as terrorist by Washington as part of their significant military deployment in the Caribbean and increasing pressure on the government of Nicolas Maduro.