Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced a new operation against “narco-terrorists” in the Western Hemisphere, signaling that the US may be prepared to step up a campaign of deadly airstrikes against vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean.
In his post on social media, Hegseth offered no further information about what the operation would entail or whether it presaged a fresh round of attacks.
Hegseth said Operation Southern Spear is a mission that “defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.”
“The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood – and we will protect it,” Hegseth said.
But speculation has swirled that the US may be preparing to strike targets in Venezuela. The US has called its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, illegitimate and the head of a narco-trafficking network.
Hegseth’s announcement comes in the wake of a massive military buildup in the region that was capped this week by the arrival of an aircraft carrier strike group. President Donald Trump has also repeatedly threatened attacks on land following the strikes against boats allegedly ferrying drugs in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
US Southern Command referred questions about the operation to the Pentagon, which didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced a new operation against “narco-terrorists” in the Western Hemisphere, signaling that the US may be prepared to step up a campaign of deadly airstrikes against vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean.
In his post on social media, Hegseth offered no further information about what the operation would entail or whether it presaged a fresh round of attacks.
Hegseth said Operation Southern Spear is a mission that “defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.”
“The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood – and we will protect it,” Hegseth said.
But speculation has swirled that the US may be preparing to strike targets in Venezuela. The US has called its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, illegitimate and the head of a narco-trafficking network.
Hegseth’s announcement comes in the wake of a massive military buildup in the region that was capped this week by the arrival of an aircraft carrier strike group. President Donald Trump has also repeatedly threatened attacks on land following the strikes against boats allegedly ferrying drugs in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
US Southern Command referred questions about the operation to the Pentagon, which didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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