U.S. Military Denies "Double-Tap" Strike on Boat Survivors

The U.S. Department of War is rejecting claims that a recent military strike in the Caribbean deliberately targeted survivors of an initial attack. Critics describe such a follow-up strike as a "double-tap," a tactic often condemned for killing first responders and rescuers. The controversy stems from an incident where a U.S. strike hit a boat. A second strike then targeted men who had survived the first explosion and were clinging to the wreckage. A Department of War statement argued the second strike did not meet the definition of a "double-tap." It did not provide further details on its justification for the follow-up attack. Human rights observers strongly criticized the military's explanation. One advocate stated that arguing over the term "double-tap" ignores the fatal result. They called the second strike a "summary execution" of defenseless survivors.