Overview
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the Southern Spear mission on X, saying a new task force under U.S. Southern Command will lead the effort, while offering no details on targets or locations.
- The Pentagon confirmed a 20th attack this week on an alleged smuggling boat with four killed, bringing reported deaths to about 79 across the campaign and, according to media counts, roughly 21 boats destroyed.
- The nuclear-powered carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has arrived in the region as part of a broader U.S. buildup justified as counter-narcotics and homeland defense.
- CBS reported that senior military leaders briefed President Trump on options for operations involving Venezuela, including potential land strikes, though no decision has been announced.
- UN human rights experts and several governments, including EU officials and France, have condemned the strikes as potentially unlawful, while Germany and Switzerland urged de-escalation and Venezuela staged large-scale military exercises in response.