US airstrike survivors clung to boat wreckage for an hour before second deadly attack, video shows

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 5 min read 100% complete by Joseph Gedeon and Chris Stein in Washington and agenciesDecember 5, 2025 at 01:37 PM

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A US airstrike on a suspected drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean on September 2 is under scrutiny after a video showed two survivors clinging to wreckage for an hour before a second strike killed them. The video, shown to senators, revealed the unarmed men appeared unaware of the attack and were trying to right the boat. The incident has raised concerns about potential war crimes committed by US officials who ordered the strike. Following this, the Pentagon announced another deadly strike in the eastern Pacific, killing four men on a similar vessel. These actions are part of a larger US military campaign targeting boats suspected of carrying illegal narcotics in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in at least 87 deaths. The legal basis for these strikes is being questioned, particularly after reports of a verbal order to "kill them all."

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Eastern Pacific Ocean 50% United States ×260% US Southern Command 70% Pete Hegseth ×280%

Keywords

us airstrike 100% drug smuggling 80% war crime 70% lethal kinetic strike 60% narco-trafficking 50% international waters 50% legal basis 40% pentagon 40%