US reportedly carries out 20th attack on a vessel in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing four people with ‘no survivors’.By News AgenciesPublished On 14 Nov 202514 Nov 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareUnited States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has formally announced the launch of a US military operation to target so-called “narco-terrorists” as Washington’s large-scale build-up of troops, warships and fighter jets continues in Latin America.“Today, I’m announcing 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 said in a post on X.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list“The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood – and we will protect it,” he said.SOUTHCOM is the acronym for US Southern Command, whose area of responsibility covers 31 countries through South America, Central America and the Caribbean.In a post on social media, SOUTHCOM said US Marines were conducting artillery training onboard the USS Iwo Jima – an amphibious assault ship – in the Caribbean in support of US President Donald Trump’s “priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland”.
#Readiness:A U.S. Marine with @22nd_MEU conducts battery training aboard USS Iwo Jima. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the #SOUTHCOM mission, @DeptofWar-directed operations, and @POTUS’ priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect… pic.twitter.com/kLaxdHcNKq
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) November 13, 2025Hegseth’s announcement late on Thursday followed a report that the US military had carried out its 20th attack on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing four people earlier this week. Advertisement US broadcaster CNN quoted an unnamed US Defense Department official who said there were “no survivors” from a strike on a suspect drug smuggling vessel, which took place on Monday.The attack is the latest reported targeting of people travelling in boats in the Caribbean and …
