Defense Minister Pete Hegseth announced the operation on Thursday.
The United States has launched a new military operation targeting what it calls “narco-terrorists” in the Western Hemisphere.
Defense Minister Pete Hegseth announced the operation on X on Thursday, Reuters reports.
– Today I announce Operation Southern Spear. Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and SOUTHCOM, this mission defends our homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our hemisphere, and secures our homeland from the drugs that are killing our people, Hegseth wrote.
The operation is led by the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which is the US military command that covers 31 countries throughout South and Central America and the Caribbean.
Hegseth did not give more details about the operation or what specific measures will be implemented.
New boat attack
The United States carried out its 20th attack on a boat suspected of drug smuggling on Monday, a Pentagon spokesman said on Thursday.
The attack took place in the Caribbean and four people were killed. There were no survivors, according to Reuters.
A total of 79 people have been killed and two injured in the US attacks against suspected drug boats. The wounded were sent back to their homelands. Mexican authorities once tried to rescue people from the sea.
The attacks have taken place in the Caribbean and off the Pacific coast of Latin America. President Donald Trump’s administration calls those killed “narco-terrorists” who are responsible for thousands of deaths in the United States, but has not provided evidence for the claim.
The US government has not publicly explained the legal basis for attacking the boats.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday defended the attacks against criticism from American allies about their legality.
– Europeans cannot dictate how Washington defends its national security, said Rubio.
