Overview
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled Operation Southern Spear, led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear under U.S. Southern Command, to target alleged narco‑terrorist networks.
- The Pentagon confirmed a strike this week on a vessel in the Caribbean that killed four people, bringing publicly acknowledged attacks to about 20 with roughly 76–80 dead.
- The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group has moved into SOUTHCOM waters, contributing to what officials describe as the largest U.S. regional buildup in decades.
- Senior military leaders presented President Trump with updated options that include potential land strikes in Venezuela, though multiple reports say no decision has been made.
- Venezuela put forces on full readiness and ordered a large deployment, Colombia suspended intelligence sharing, and the U.N. rights chief urged a legality review as a reported DOJ OLC opinion said U.S. troops would be insulated from prosecution.