Chicago – December 05, 2025
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth came under intense scrutiny on Thursday as lawmakers raised concerns about two separate issues: the legality of a Sept. 2 military strike on survivors of a suspected drug-running vessel in the Caribbean, and a Pentagon watchdog report criticizing his use of the encrypted app Signal to discuss a U.S. strike on Yemen.
Lawmakers Shown Video of Controversial Caribbean Strike
Members of Congress in both the House and Senate were given private briefings led by Navy Admiral Frank M. Bradley, the Special Operations commander who oversaw the mission. During these classified sessions, lawmakers viewed previously unseen footage of the strike.
Following the briefing, several leading Democrats voiced alarm. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, described the footage as “one of the most troubling things I’ve seen in public service.”
Himes said the video clearly depicted two distressed individuals, stranded with no operational vessel, who were ultimately killed by U.S. forces. He noted that the Department of Defense’s own law-of-war manual explicitly lists targeting a shipwreck as an example of an unlawful attack.
“Any American who sees that footage will understand that the United States military was engaging shipwrecked sailors,” Himes said.
Republicans Offer a Contrasting View
Some Republicans rejected these concerns. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, described the individuals differently claiming they appeared to be attempting to right a drug-laden vessel so they could “stay in the fight.”
Cotton acknowledged that the operation involved several strikes spaced minutes apart but insisted the actions were lawful and appropriate, adding that he saw “nothing disturbing” in the footage.
Broader Questions Over Legality and U.S. Policy
The Sept. 2 strike has fueled a growing debate over whether the United States exceeded its legal authority or potentially violated international law. Critics warn that, depending on the administration’s justification specifically the claim that the U.S. is engaged in an armed conflict with narco-trafficking networks the strike could constitute a war crime.
Compounding the controversy, a separate Pentagon watchdog report faulted Hegseth for using Signal, an encrypted messaging app, to discuss sensitive details regarding a U.S. attack on Yemen, raising additional concerns about record-keeping and compliance with communication policies.
As congressional inquiries advance, both issues continue to draw bipartisan attention, signaling that Hegseth and the Pentagon may face expanded oversight and potential legal challenges in the coming weeks.
