Congress Questions Navy Admiral Over Lethal Venezuela Boat Strikes/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Congressional lawmakers received a classified briefing Tuesday from Adm. Alvin Holsey, the retiring commander overseeing the strikes on suspected drug‑smuggling boats near Venezuela. The session comes amid intensifying scrutiny after an operation in September killed two survivors of an initial strike. Lawmakers from both parties are demanding unedited video, authorization orders, and clarity on the mission’s legal and intelligence basis.
Boat Strike Oversight: Quick Look
- Adm. Alvin Holsey briefed Senate Armed Services leaders in a classified call as he prepares to retire from U.S. Southern Command.
- Congress is demanding unedited strike footage and operational orders as part of the defense authorization bill.
- Lawmakers question whether the Sept. 2 strike, which killed two survivors, violated military rules governing lethal force.
- The boat targeted in the strike was reportedly heading south toward a vessel bound for Suriname, raising further concerns about U.S. intent.
- Trump’s campaign has destroyed 22 boats and killed at least 87 people since September.
- Officials say the operations apply rules from the global war on terror to combat drug smuggling.
- Sen. Chris Coons criticized the use of high‑end military weapons on low‑level traffickers, questioning strategic value.
- Sen. Thom Tillis said he wants the full set of facts before drawing conclusions but previously called for accountability.
- Adm. Frank Bradley told lawmakers he ordered the second strike to prevent cartels from recovering cocaine from the wreckage.
- Congress will also receive a wider national security briefing from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Congress Questions Navy Admiral Over Lethal Venezuela Boat Strikes
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — December 9, 2025 —
Congressional leaders on Tuesday heard directly from a top Navy commander overseeing a controversial military campaign targeting suspected drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela — a mission that has sparked growing concerns over civilian casualties, legal boundaries, and military accountability.
Adm. Alvin Holsey, who is stepping down early from his post as head of U.S. Southern Command, briefed Senate Armed Services Committee members via a classified video call. Lawmakers are seeking detailed answers following a September 2 incident in which two survivors were killed after a second strike on a capsized vessel. The boat was allegedly carrying narcotics.
The classified briefing came ahead of a broader national security session with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Pentagon’s transparency and use-of-force guidelines are under bipartisan scrutiny, especially as President Donald Trump expands aggressive anti-narcotics operations in Latin America.
Congressional Oversight Intensifies
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, offered no specifics about the Holsey call but praised the admiral as a “great public servant.” Still, the conversation marked a critical moment in the growing debate over the legality and effectiveness of the administration’s actions.
Lawmakers have demanded the Pentagon turn over full, unedited video footage of the boat strikes, as well as the operational orders that authorized the missions. These requests have been tied to this year’s defense authorization package, signaling Congress is prepared to pressure the administration to comply.
Wicker acknowledged the Defense Department is still assessing whether parts of the footage may be classified.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
The September incident — now one of the most controversial operations in the campaign — involved the killing of two individuals who had survived an initial strike and were clinging to debris. Trump has defended the decision, asserting the men were trying to recover the boat and potentially its contents. But legal experts and members of Congress argue the attack may have violated the laws governing military use of force, particularly outside of conventional combat zones.
“This operation has raised serious questions,” said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.). “We’re using high-end military assets to kill what amount to corner-level drug dealers, while making little visible progress in curbing cartel trafficking.”
Lawmakers have also learned that intelligence showed the targeted boat was moving south — away from the U.S. — and toward another vessel bound for Suriname, further complicating the justification for lethal action.
Background on the Operation
Trump’s campaign against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and northern South America began in early September and has since resulted in 22 vessel strikes and at least 87 deaths. The administration claims the operations are modeled after counterterrorism rules of engagement and are intended to preempt threats to American lives by destroying drug supplies at sea.
Adm. Holsey, who has overseen the region since 2024, had previously focused on regional stability and cooperation. His early retirement, announced in October, came as the Pentagon shifted to a more aggressive posture under Hegseth’s leadership.
While the U.S. Coast Guard has traditionally led interdiction efforts, the military campaign represents a shift in strategy — using Navy warships and aircraft to destroy suspected drug-smuggling boats, sometimes without warning or prior attempts to board.
A key part of the administration’s justification is denying cartels the ability to recover narcotics from damaged vessels. In the September strike, Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, the special operations commander involved, told lawmakers he ordered the follow-up strike to ensure the drugs couldn’t be salvaged.
Lawmakers Divided on Next Steps
While Democrats have raised legal and moral concerns, Republicans appear divided. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who previously called for more transparency, said he would reserve judgment until all data is made available.
“I want a full set of data to draw my conclusions from,” Tillis said.
Still, the pressure is mounting for the administration to offer more details and clarify the legal framework underpinning the campaign — particularly as reports surface of possible misidentification or excessive force in strike operations.
Whether Congress will take concrete steps to limit or investigate the strikes more aggressively remains uncertain. But bipartisan calls for transparency are likely to intensify as the Defense Department continues to withhold key documents and footage.
What’s Next
Congressional leaders are expected to receive a high-level briefing later Tuesday from Rubio and Hegseth. Lawmakers continue to weigh whether the administration’s strategy reflects appropriate use of military power or an overreach that risks further civilian harm and diplomatic fallout in the region.
As scrutiny grows, so does the call for accountability — not only for the tactical decisions made at sea, but also for the broader policy choices behind them.
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