Executive Summary
"U.S. forces conducted a second strike on survivors who were shirtless, unarmed, and struggling to stay afloat after the initial attack."
Multiple credible news outlets have confirmed a September 2, 2025 U.S. military strike near Venezuela killed at least 2 survivors in a follow-up "double-tap" attack. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has refused to release video footage, contradicting President Trump's earlier statement that it would be released. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) have demanded answers.
Timeline of Events
Key Points in Dispute
Legal Questions
The Second Geneva Convention (1949) protects shipwrecked persons during armed conflict. Article 12 states:
"Members of the armed forces and other persons... who are at sea and who are wounded, sick or shipwrecked, shall be respected and protected in all circumstances."
— Geneva Convention II, Article 12
According to Just Security's legal analysis, the key question is whether the individuals in the water were hors de combat (out of combat) at the time of the second strike. If they were unarmed and clearly unable to fight, attacking them would constitute a war crime under international humanitarian law.
However, the Pentagon's position is that these were counter-narcotics operations, not armed conflict, which may place them outside the scope of the Geneva Conventions. Legal experts are divided on this interpretation.
Congressional Response
"Secretary Hegseth is either lying about who gave the order, or he's incompetent about what's happening in his own chain of command. Either way, the American people deserve answers."
— Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), December 1, 2025
The bipartisan nature of the outcry is notable. Both Republican and Democratic senators have called for transparency, with the Senate NDAA amendment passing with support from both parties. The amendment requires the Pentagon to provide the strike video to the Armed Services Committee within 30 days.
"If we're killing survivors in the water, the American public has a right to know. This isn't about politics—it's about whether we're following the laws of war."
— Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), December 1, 2025
Counter-Narcotics Strike Data
According to Military.com's investigation, the Trump administration has conducted approximately 24 "go-fast" boat interdiction strikes since the counter-narcotics campaign expanded in early 2025. The September 2 incident is the first where a "double-tap" on survivors has been publicly confirmed.
Bottom Line
Confirmed: U.S. military forces killed survivors in the water after a September 2, 2025 boat strike near Venezuela. Disputed: Whether Hegseth personally ordered "kill everybody" and whether proper rules of engagement were followed. Pending: Congressional demand for video release within 30 days under NDAA amendment. This is an evolving story with significant legal and political implications.