Overview
- U.S. Southern Command said that at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a lethal strike in international waters on Nov. 10, releasing video and citing intelligence linking the vessel to narcotics smuggling and a Designated Terrorist Organization.
- The operation’s death toll has climbed to nearly 80 since August across more than 20 actions, according to the latest tallies reported by the outlets.
- ‘Lanza del Sur’ features large deployments including a carrier, guided‑missile destroyers, nuclear submarines, F‑35 aircraft and special operators, with roughly 15,000 U.S. personnel in the region.
- Venezuela condemned the campaign, mobilized about 123,000 troops and militia members, ordered exercises, and placed obstacles on strategic routes as Caracas warns of a potential attack.
- Experts caution that the United States lacks the resources for a regime‑change invasion and warn of prolonged instability, while China’s zero‑tariff pact and broader footprint in Venezuela, plus regional concerns about displaced trafficking routes, complicate the strategic picture.