Overview
- After a classified briefing with top officials, Pete Hegseth told congressional leaders he is still considering releasing the full Sept. 2 strike video that shows a follow‑on blast that killed two survivors.
- House and Senate negotiators inserted language in the defense policy bill to withhold a quarter of Hegseth’s travel funds unless unedited strike videos are provided to lawmakers.
- Democrats said the latest Gang of Eight briefing was unsatisfying and requested execution orders, communications and legal opinions, while Rep. Mike Rogers declared his House Armed Services probe complete.
- Officials and reports say the campaign has hit 22 boats and killed at least 87 people since September, as disputes persist over whether the Sept. 2 target was headed toward a transfer bound for Suriname and whether survivors posed any threat.
- U.S. military activity around Venezuela expanded with a pair of Navy F/A‑18s flying over the Gulf of Venezuela, some Republicans voiced skepticism about any move to land operations, and experts noted most fentanyl comes via Mexico and most cocaine via Colombia.