The chair of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mike Rogers, has announced the conclusion of an investigation into a military strike that occurred on September 2, 2023. The strike targeted a vessel in the Caribbean allegedly involved in drug trafficking and resulted in the deaths of two survivors. Rogers stated, “It’s done,” emphasizing that he has received all necessary information regarding the incident.
Rogers, a Republican from Alabama, had previously committed to working alongside Rep. Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington, to ensure “rigorous oversight” of the event following a report by The Washington Post. The bipartisan commitment aimed to address concerns regarding the military operation executed by the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
In a classified briefing held last week, Rogers met with key military leaders, including Adm. Frank Bradley, the head of U.S. Special Operations Command, who oversaw the strike. During this session, lawmakers were shown footage of the incident. Adm. Bradley confirmed that there was no directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to execute what has been described in reports as a “kill them all” order.
Despite the closure of the investigation, lawmakers have continued to pressure the Pentagon for the release of the full video of the strike. Some members of Congress have raised concerns that the second strike could potentially be classified as a war crime. In response, a new defense policy bill has been proposed, which calls for the release of “unedited video of strikes conducted against designated terrorist organizations” within the jurisdiction of U.S. Southern Command. It also includes provisions that would allow for the withholding of Hegseth’s travel budget for the fiscal year 2026 if he fails to comply.
On the same day that Rogers announced the investigation’s conclusion, the “gang of 8” in Congress, which includes leaders from both parties and members of the Intelligence Committee, received a briefing regarding the incident. The session featured contributions from key figures, including Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Former President Donald Trump had previously expressed support for the release of the full video but later deferred to Hegseth regarding the decision. Trump commented, “It looked like they were trying to turn the boat back over, but I don’t get involved in that,” indicating his distance from the operational details.
As the investigation wraps up, the scrutiny on military operations in the region remains a critical issue for lawmakers, who continue to advocate for transparency and accountability in U.S. military actions.
