Overview
- On NBC's Meet the Press, Sen. Tom Cotton said survivors of the Sept. 2 hit 'were not incapacitated' and urged the maritime strikes to continue.
- He argued the president has inherent commander-in-chief authority to carry out the operations without new congressional approval under the War Powers framework.
- Cotton acknowledged he was not shown evidence the struck vessel was heading to the United States, while reporting has indicated a course toward Suriname with drugs bound for Europe or Africa.
- NBC News reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered killing all 11 people on the Sept. 2 target list and that Adm. Frank Bradley deemed survivors lawful targets, with JAG counsel involved.
- The Pentagon says nearly two dozen strikes have killed at least 86 people, and lawmakers are seeking unedited video and legal rationale as critics warn the follow-up strike could constitute a war crime.