The Pentagon on Thursday released video footage of the latest U.S. strike on a drug-trafficking vessel operating off the coast of Venezuela, marking the 22nd such operation since September.
The announcement came amid continued criticism from Democratic lawmakers who have accused the Trump administration of committing “war crimes” in connection with earlier maritime strikes.
Prior to Thursday’s operation, U.S. forces had conducted 21 strikes in the Caribbean region, resulting in 83 confirmed deaths, according to Pentagon figures and independent tracking.
The missions have relied primarily on MQ-9 drones and naval assets to destroy high-speed vessels departing Venezuelan waters along known narcotics routes.
The Pentagon said Thursday’s strike targeted a drug boat operating in the Eastern Pacific.
“On Dec. 4, at the direction of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization,” the department stated.
“Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and transiting along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific. Four male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed.” The release included aerial footage of the strike.
On Dec. 4, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization. Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and… pic.twitter.com/pqksvxM3HP
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 4, 2025
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The operations have become the subject of ongoing debate in Congress after Democrats accused War Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. servicemembers of unlawful conduct during a September 2 strike.
Lawmakers cited concerns about what they described as a “double tap” tactic after a second missile was launched at the vessel following the initial strike.
ABC’s Martha Raddatz on Wednesday’s ‘World News Tonight’ about drug boat-gate: “And tonight, new information: According to a source familiar with the incident, the two survivors climbed back on to the boat after the initial strike. They were believed to be potentially in… pic.twitter.com/R5eHFzzDql
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 4, 2025
Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, briefed lawmakers Thursday and said he had ordered the follow-up strike.
Bradley told members of Congress that the drug traffickers remained in communication with other traffickers and were attempting to salvage narcotics at the time of the second strike.
Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas said after the briefing that the traffickers’ actions showed they were still engaged in the confrontation and that the strike was valid under what he described as the “fog of war.”
Tom Cotton ~they flipped a boat back over loaded with drugs bound for the U.S so they can stay in the fight…Admiral Bradley & Sec Hegseth did exactly what we would expect them to do
Hit that like button if you support what our military is doing to stop these narco terrorists pic.twitter.com/qAGqgR7CRU
— @Chicago1Ray 🇺🇸 (@Chicago1Ray) December 4, 2025
The Washington Post’s “report” last week was a complete, blatant lie.
They owe an apology to @SecWar, Admiral Bradley, and all of our men and women in uniform who are keeping our country safe from drug cartels. pic.twitter.com/ZKwScJQZM9
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) December 5, 2025
Some Democratic lawmakers have called the September strike one of the most troubling episodes they have encountered in Congress.
Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut described the incident as one of the most “disturbing” events of his career and urged the public release of the footage.
President Donald Trump has endorsed releasing the video.
The debate over “double tap” strikes has prompted comparisons to prior administrations.
The tactic, now the subject of Democratic criticism, has appeared in past military operations, including strikes authorized under former President Barack Obama.
Three days into Obama’s presidency, two drone strikes were conducted three hours apart in Waziristan, Pakistan, marking the administration’s first use of double-tap methods.
At least 20 civilians were killed in the strikes.
In January 2012, another drone strike in Pakistan’s Shawal Valley targeted Taliban commander Sadiq Noor.
A second strike followed, killing up to 14 people, including potential first responders.
No calls for “war crimes” investigations were issued by Democratic lawmakers at that time.
The Pentagon continues to defend the ongoing maritime operations, citing intelligence assessments and narcotics interdiction objectives.
