Tensions in the Caribbean

Trump opens to release video from boat attack

US President Donald Trump says he is open to releasing video footage from the second attack on a boat allegedly smuggling drugs in the Caribbean in September, CNN reports.

Two people are believed to have survived the first attack, but were killed in the second.

– I don't know what footage we have, but whatever we have, we can release it, no problem, Trump says.

The White House has come under heavy criticism from Democrats, and some Republicans, for its deadly attacks in the Caribbean. Critics say they may violate both domestic and international law.

Donald Trump on Wednesday defended the attacks again, claiming that the boat attacks have the support of the American people.

– And very soon we will start doing it on land as well.

Republicans satisfied with admiral's response to the attack – Democrats critical

Frank Bradley's account of the attack on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean on September 2 has landed differently with Democrats and Republicans after today's hearing in Congress, reports CNN.

Bradley was the one who ordered a second attack on the boat after the people on board survived the first attack, something that has been heavily criticized by several voices in both parties.

Legal experts believe that the attack may constitute a crime. The Washington Post has previously reported that Bradley carried out Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's order to "kill them all."

Republican Rick Crawford, chairman of the intelligence committee, says he has confidence in Hegseth after listening to Bradley's account. The top Democrat on the committee, Jim Himes, however, says he is deeply concerned about what he heard during the hearing.

Sources: Survivors were on their way back – then the military struck again

Two people who survived a US attack on a boat that had been alleged to be smuggling drugs to the US in September tried to climb back aboard the boat when it was attacked a second time. This is what sources told CBS News.

Deliberately targeting the wounded or civilians constitutes a war crime under international law. The Trump administration has claimed that it is at war with drug cartels, and that the attacks are therefore legitimate.

The US has carried out more than 20 attacks against what it claims are "narco-terrorists" in the process of smuggling drugs to the US.

US attacks in the Caribbean – US attacks in the Caribbean – that's the point

• The US has carried out 22 deadly attacks on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since September. In total, more than 70 people have been killed.
• The US government has justified the attacks by saying they are targeting drug smugglers, but has not provided any evidence that the boats were carrying drugs.
• The legality of the attacks has been questioned by the UN, international law experts and several governments. The UK and Colombia have suspended intelligence cooperation with the US as a result of the attacks.