Video Shows Survivors Waving Before Contested Second U.S. Strike, Lawmakers Say

Video Appears To Show Survivors Waving Before Follow-Up Strike

Two people who survived an early-September U.S. strike on an alleged drug-running vessel in the Caribbean were seen waving from above before they were killed in a subsequent, now-contested second strike, according to two sources familiar with a video shown this week to members of Congress. One source said the gestures could be interpreted either as calls for help or as attempts to signal that no further attack was necessary. The additional details were first reported by The New York Times.

Operation And Campaign Context

The Sept. 2 operation was the first in a recent campaign of more than 20 strikes on vessels suspected of carrying narcotics, a series the U.S. military says has killed more than 80 people, including 11 on Sept. 2. Administration officials have framed the campaign as necessary to disrupt drug trafficking, while critics question its legal basis and tactics.

Contested Follow-Up Strike

The operation drew renewed scrutiny after reports that U.S. forces conducted a follow-up strike on the same vessel that killed two people who had survived the initial attack. Some Democrats and legal scholars say targeting shipwrecked survivors could amount to a war crime. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed there was a second strike but maintained it was lawful and was carried out to "ensure the boat was destroyed."

Lawmakers Viewed Video In Closed Briefing

Members of Congress watched the video — including the footage of the follow-up attack — during a closed-door briefing with the operation's commander, Adm. Mitch Bradley, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine. Lawmakers emerged with sharply contrasting interpretations of what the footage showed.

Democratic Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut said the survivors appeared to be in clear distress without any means of locomotion and called the footage very troubling. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas said the survivors appeared to be trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs back over and defended the Sept. 2 strikes as lawful and necessary.

Accountability, Transparency And Next Steps

Several lawmakers said Adm. Bradley testified there was no explicit order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to kill everyone onboard. President Trump said he would support releasing the strike video to the public and, when asked whether he would back killing survivors, replied that he supported "the decision to knock out the boats." Members of Congress and legal experts have called for greater transparency and independent review to assess the operation's legality and rules of engagement.

What Happens Next: Congress may pursue further oversight, and public release of the video could intensify debate about U.S. strike policy, rules of engagement, and accountability for civilian and survivor protection.