The US military carried out another strike on Monday against a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean Sea, killing four people on board, a Pentagon official confirmed.
Since September, US forces have destroyed at least 21 vessels in 20 separate strikes in international waters, resulting in more than 80 deaths. The Trump administration says the missions form part of a broad anti-drug campaign, though details remain limited.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth formally announced Operation Southern Spear, describing it as an effort to target “narco-terrorists” and protect “our homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.” The operation includes deploying multiple warships across the Caribbean, among them the USS Gerald R. Ford.
Hegseth added that the task force has already removed several suspected drug-running vessels, with more actions expected as the operation progresses. President Trump has also indicated that land-based operations are under consideration. According to CBS, senior military leaders briefed him on “updated options” for potential strikes on Venezuela this week, though no final decision has been made.
Operation Southern Spear will be executed in coordination with US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), responsible for military operations in Central and South America and surrounding waters. SOUTHCOM’s leader, Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, is scheduled to retire in mid-December — several years earlier than expected — after reportedly taking a more cautious approach than Hegseth favored. Democratic lawmakers have also raised concerns about the legality of the naval strikes.
In a post on X, Hegseth wrote: “Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and @SOUTHCOM, this mission 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.”
