Congress Pressures Pentagon Over Strikes on Boats in Caribbean

U.S. lawmakers threaten to cut Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's travel budget to obtain unedited videos of military strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific, part of Donald Trump's anti-narcoterrorist campaign against Venezuela. Concerns rise over legality and lack of congressional authorization of these military actions.

In a bid for transparency, U.S. lawmakers are pressuring the Pentagon to release unedited videos of military strikes on boats in the southern Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Lawmakers, including some from President Donald Trump's own party, are questioning the legality of these operations against Venezuela.

The travel budget of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is at stake, with Congress threatening to withhold a quarter of it unless the videos and overdue reports are handed over. The demand comes within a stipulation in the National Defense Authorization Act, set to become law by year-end.

Since September, over 22 strikes targeting vessels have sparked controversy and concern over possible violations of international law. Critics, including senior Democrats, are troubled by September 2 strikes that killed survivors. Trump administration officials remain firm, describing the campaign as legal and necessary to combat narcoterrorists.