Overview
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear, led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear under U.S. Southern Command to target transnational narcotrafficking, and some reports say the mission will employ robotic aerial and maritime vehicles.
- U.S. naval forces tightened their posture near Venezuelan waters, with two warships observed roughly 50 kilometers off the coast and the carrier USS Gerald Ford operating in the southern Caribbean.
- Around 20 U.S. strikes on suspected smuggling boats since August have been reported, leaving approximately 75–80 dead, with officials citing links to Tren de Aragua and the Cartel de los Soles.
- U.S. outlets including CBS report ongoing planning that considers options up to potential ground operations and actions against oil infrastructure, though no final decision or launch date has been set.
- Venezuela announced large-scale military mobilization and drills as Russia condemned the U.S. initiative and signaled readiness to support Caracas.