The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced on X that on February 23, under the leadership of General Francis L. Donovan, the Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a "lethal kinetic strike" against a vessel allegedly operating for organizations designated as terrorists. This vessel was navigating routes notorious for drug trafficking in the Caribbean.
Three individuals, identified by Washington as "narcoterrorists," were killed in the operation. The U.S. forces reported no casualties.
This announcement follows a similar strike in the eastern Pacific just two days prior, broadening the geographical scope of a campaign no longer confined to a single maritime area. With this latest action, the death toll since the operation commenced in September 2025 now exceeds 150, across at least 44 confirmed strikes on vessels reportedly linked to drug trafficking.
Dubbed Operation Southern Spear, this offensive is part of a broader strategy aimed at disrupting the logistical networks of transnational crime in both the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Its impact, however, extends beyond anti-drug efforts and is beginning to reshape regional security dynamics.
As of February 21, reports indicated at least 148 fatalities from 43 attacks on 44 ships, alongside the first U.S. bombing of a land target in Venezuela, marking a pivotal shift in the campaign. The expansion of these operations into Venezuelan territory and the repeated strikes in the Caribbean are heightening diplomatic and military tensions across the hemisphere.
Impact and Implications of U.S. Strikes in the Caribbean
What is Operation Southern Spear?
Operation Southern Spear is a U.S. military offensive targeting the logistical networks of transnational crime, particularly those involved in drug trafficking, in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific regions.
What has been the result of these strikes?
The strikes have resulted in over 150 deaths across more than 44 confirmed attacks, primarily targeting vessels associated with drug trafficking operations.
How have these actions affected regional security?
The operations are reshaping regional security dynamics by extending beyond drug enforcement efforts, increasing diplomatic and military tensions within the hemisphere.