A Navy admiral told lawmakers Thursday that there was no “kill them all” order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth but grave questions and concerns remain as Congress scrutinizes an attack that killed two survivors of an initial strike on an alleged drug boat in international waters near Venezuela.

Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley “was very clear that he was given no such order, to give no quarter or to kill them all,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, who heads the Senate Intelligence Committee, as he exited a classified briefing.

While Cotton, R-Ark., defended the attack, Democrats who were also briefed and saw video of the survivors being killed questioned the Trump administration’s rationale and said the incident was deeply concerning.

"I think it'd be hard to watch this series of videos, and not be troubled by it. So I don't reach the same conclusion that Senator Cotton does," said Sen. Chris Coons, (D) Delaware.

"I have more policy questions than ever about the framing of the mission, the rules of engagement," added Senator Coons.

Democrats are demanding the release of the full video of the Sept. 2 attack, as well as written records of the orders and any directives from Hegseth. Republicans, who control the national security committees, have not publicly called for those documents, but have pledged a thorough review.

AP Video by Rick Gentilo