• U.S. officials brief Congress on a September military strike against alleged drug traffickers.
• The second attack on survivors raises legal and ethical concerns among lawmakers.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly did not issue a "kill all" order, according to admiral's testimony.
• Bipartisan calls for accountability and investigations into military actions persist.
• The Pentagon asserts strikes are justified under current military operations against drug cartels.

Key Pentagon officials, including Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley and Gen. Dan Caine, briefed members of Congress on the controversial military strike against an alleged Venezuelan drug boat during a closed session on Capitol Hill. This briefing, occurring after a September 2 incident that allegedly killed survivors of a prior attack, has sparked significant scrutiny and legislative interest, particularly following a Washington Post report indicating that the military may have violated international law by targeting individuals attempting to escape from a sinking vessel, which many lawmakers classify as a war crime, according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

During the briefing, lawmakers were shown video footage of the attack, which has reportedly resulted in over 80 deaths since the campaign commenced. Adm. Bradley emphasized that he had received no order from Defense Secretary Hegseth for a "kill them all" directive, a stance supported by various congressional leaders who are demanding further clarity regarding the incident's legality. Concerns had previously been raised following conflicting reports regarding who authorized the follow-up strike, further casting doubt on the legalities of such military operations against alleged drug traffickers, according to BBC and Anadolu Agency.

Rep. Jim Himes, senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, described seeing the video as one of the most disturbing experiences of his congressional career, indicating that it portrayed an attack on individuals in dire distress. This sentiment was echoed by other lawmakers who demanded a comprehensive investigation into the events of September 2 and expressed the necessity for the Pentagon to release the full, unedited video of the strike. Such calls reflect a growing bipartisan concern about the nature and legality of military actions taken under the Trump administration in Caribbean waters, according to Los Angeles Times and CBS News.

Additionally, the Pentagon's operations in the Caribbean have been framed within a broader narrative of combating "narco-terrorists," but legal experts are questioning the justifications offered by the military command, particularly regarding targeting those who cannot fight back. The operations' adherence to the Geneva Conventions regarding combatants is also under scrutiny, as lawmakers push for a thorough review of legal and operational standards employed during these strikes, as reported by BBC and Anadolu Agency.