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Trump Hints Decision on Venezuela as U.S. Confirms 20th Boat Strike and Launches Operation Southern Spear

A secret Justice Department rationale labeling cartels as war foes drives an expanded campaign facing mounting opposition.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House August 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump was expected to announce his plan to deploy the National Guard and elements of federal law enforcement agencies to assist in crime prevention in the nation’s capital. Also pictured is U.S Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The Pentagon is seen from the air in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 3, 2022. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during the 4th annual Northeast Indiana Defense Summit at Purdue University Fort Wayne, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Fort Wayne, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable on criminal cartels in at the White House, Oct. 23, 2025 (AP photo by Evan Vucci).

Overview

  • Senior officials held three White House meetings this week on Venezuela contingencies, including potential land strikes, and President Trump said he has "sort of" made up his mind.
  • The Pentagon confirmed a Nov. 10 attack that killed four people, marking the 20th strike since September and raising the death toll to about 80.
  • The Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group moved into the region with more than 75 aircraft and over 5,000 troops, reinforcing U.S. Southern Command’s posture.
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally named the mission Operation Southern Spear and framed targets as "narco-terrorists" without releasing corroborating evidence.
  • A reported DOJ memo and a confidential notice to Congress assert a non-international armed conflict with cartels, while the U.K. has curtailed intelligence sharing and a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows a majority of Americans oppose the strikes.