US lawmakers urge release of video of double-tap boat strike in Caribbean

Al JazeeraCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete by John PowerDecember 8, 2025 at 04:19 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

US lawmakers are urging the release of a video depicting a double-tap strike on a vessel in the Caribbean that occurred on September 2, 2025. The incident, part of a militarized anti-drug trafficking campaign, involved a follow-up strike that killed two survivors of the initial attack on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel. After viewing the footage in a closed-door briefing, Democratic and Republican lawmakers offered differing accounts, with Democrats raising concerns about the legality of the strikes. Democrats argue the video's release would demonstrate the unjustified nature of the second strike, while Republicans maintain the strikes were justified. The call for transparency comes amid growing scrutiny of the legality of Washington's anti-drug trafficking campaign.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Democratic Party ×240% Republican Party ×240% House Intelligence Committee 50% Jim Himes 60% United States ×370% Trump administration ×280%

Keywords

double-tap strike 90% drug-smuggling vessel 80% video release 70% militarised anti-drug trafficking campaign 60% legality 50% caribbean 50% house intelligence committee 40% partisan divide 40%