Pentagon Declines Release of Top-Secret Video from September Drug Boat Strike
The Pentagon has announced it will not release the top-secret full unedited video of the September strike on a suspected drug boat, citing longstanding War and Defense policies. Although the footage will be shown to the appropriate congressional committees, it will not be made available to the general public.
This decision came after a bipartisan classified Senate hearing on the strikes, attended by Sen. Marco Rubio who also planned a House briefing with Secretary Hegseth. Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Kelly has called for open hearings, suggesting the Pentagon may have issues with the video's contents and is withholding them.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that after reviewing the classified video, he believes the military action was entirely appropriate.
The timeline of events notes that on September 2, a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean was struck, with a second missile killing the two reported survivors. The White House defended this second strike on December 1. Karoline Leavitt said Secretary Hegseth authorized the second strike, and Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley ordered it, acting within his authority. Leavitt declined to confirm whether the second strike was ordered due to survivors from the first strike. Video footage reportedly shows the vessel shortly before it was destroyed.
