US Launches Operation Southern Spear Against Narco-Terrorists in Latin America
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday the launch of a new military operation aimed at removing narco-terrorists from the region. The operation, named Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR, intends to defend the US homeland and secure it from drugs.
“Today, I’m announcing Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR,” Hegseth posted on X. “This mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.” However, the post did not provide details about what the operation would entail or how it might differ from ongoing military actions.
Ongoing Military Campaign in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is conducting a military campaign in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. This campaign involves deploying naval and air forces for what it calls an anti-drugs offensive. Since early September, US forces have carried out strikes on about 20 vessels in international waters in the region, resulting in the deaths of at least 76 people, according to US figures.
In response, Venezuela announced Tuesday a major, nationwide military deployment to counter the growing US naval presence off its coast that includes a newly arrived US aircraft carrier strike group in the region. Caracas fears that the deployment, which also includes F-35 stealth warplanes sent to Puerto Rico and six US Navy ships in the Caribbean, is a regime change plot in disguise.
When asked for clarification on the precise nature of Operation Southern Spear, a Pentagon spokesperson simply referred inquiries back to Hegseth’s post on X. Additionally, CBS News reported on Wednesday that senior military officials had presented Trump with updated options for potential operations in Venezuela, including strikes on land.
