Survivors of boat strike on Sept. 2 were signaling for help before second attack, sources report

Two individuals who survived a U.S. strike on a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean on September 2 were seen waving overhead before being killed in a controversial follow-up attack, according to two sources familiar with a video shown to lawmakers this week. One of the sources noted that their actions could be interpreted as either an attempt to signal for help or a plea to prevent a second strike. These details were first reported by The New York Times.

The operation on September 2 marked the beginning of over 20 attacks on suspected drug-smuggling vessels carried out by the Trump administration in recent months. While officials defend these strikes as necessary to combat narcotics trafficking, critics argue that they are legally questionable. According to military reports, more than 80 people have died in these strikes, including 11 on September 2.

Public attention was rekindled last week following a report that the U.S. military had carried out a second strike on the same vessel, killing two survivors from the initial attack. Some Democratic lawmakers and legal experts have raised concerns that targeting survivors could be classified as a war crime. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the second strike but maintained that it was lawful and justified to "ensure the boat was destroyed."

Lawmakers were shown a video of the strikes, including the one that killed the two survivors, during a private session with Adm. Mitch Bradley, the operation's commander, and Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The interpretations of the video varied greatly among the members of Congress. Democratic Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut expressed deep concern, describing the survivors as "in clear distress without any means of locomotion" and calling the situation "one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service."

On the other hand, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas argued that the survivors were attempting to flip a boat full of drugs back over in order to continue their mission, asserting that the four strikes on September 2 were "entirely lawful and necessary." Several lawmakers noted that Adm. Bradley testified that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not give orders to kill everyone aboard the vessel.

President Trump has publicly supported the release of the video, saying he would back its release to the public. When asked if he supported the killing of survivors, the president replied, "No, I support the decision to knock out the boats."

Author: Ethan Caldwell