U.S. announces military operation against 'narco-terrorists'

United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced a new military operation called "Southern Spear" that is aimed at targeting "narco-terrorists" in the Western Hemisphere.

“President Trump ordered action — and the Department of War is delivering,” Hegseth said on X. “Today, I’m announcing Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR. Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and [U.S. Southern Command], this mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people. The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood – and we will protect it.”

Hegseth’s announcement followed a report that the U.S. military had carried out its 20th attack on what it describes as drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific. The attacks have killed some 80 people, whom the U.S. describes as “narco-terrorists”. The U.S. has repeatedly accused Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro of running the drug trafficking operations. Maduro accused the U.S. of creating false narratives to justify its attacks on vessels in regional waters and threatening his country.