WASHINGTON D.C. – The United States government announced a new military mission on Thursday, November 13, 2025, dubbed “Operation Southern Spear,” aimed at removing “narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere,” according to a social media post by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The announcement, which lacked specific details, has intensified speculation about potential US military action against Venezuela and signaled a significant escalation in the Trump administration's counter-narcotics strategy.

In his statement on the social media platform X, Secretary Hegseth declared, “President Trump ordered action — and the Department of War is delivering.” He stated the mission would be led by a new Joint Task Force Southern Spear and the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which oversees military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean. The stated goals are to defend the US homeland, remove so-called narco-terrorists, and stop the flow of illicit drugs. “The Western Hemisphere is America's neighborhood – and we will protect it,” Hegseth added.

This announcement formalizes a military campaign that has been active for months. Since early September 2025, the US has conducted at least 20 lethal strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing more than 80 people alleged to be trafficking narcotics. A Pentagon official confirmed the most recent strike occurred on Monday, November 10, in the Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals described as “narco-terrorists.” These actions are part of a broader naval buildup in the region, which now includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, along with its strike group, comprising thousands of sailors and marines.

While the operation's immediate focus is Latin America, its implications are global. The aggressive posture and the potential for destabilization in Venezuela, a major oil-producing nation, could have ripple effects on global energy markets and international law. For Kenya and East Africa, which are contending with their own challenges related to narcotics trafficking and terrorism, this unilateral US military action sets a significant international precedent. The broad designation of drug cartels as “terrorist organizations” by the Trump administration in January 2025 laid the groundwork for these military actions.

Confusion arose as the US Navy’s 4th Fleet had previously announced a different mission also named “Operation Southern Spear” in January 2025. That earlier operation was focused on deploying unmanned robotic and autonomous systems to detect and monitor illicit trafficking. It remains unclear how the newly announced, more aggressive military campaign relates to the technology-focused mission.

Other Key US Developments

The announcement of Operation Southern Spear came amid a series of other significant events in the United States this week.

Government Reopens After Record Shutdown: The US federal government fully reopened on Thursday, November 13, after President Trump signed a funding bill late Wednesday night. The signing ended a record-breaking 43-day shutdown, the longest in US history, which had furloughed hundreds of thousands of federal employees and disrupted government services nationwide. The shutdown began on October 1 after Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year amid a dispute over healthcare subsidies.

Justice Department Sues California: The Trump administration is suing California Governor Gavin Newsom over the state's newly adopted congressional maps. The Department of Justice joined a Republican lawsuit on Thursday, November 13, alleging that the new districts, approved by voters as Proposition 50, constitute an unconstitutional racial gerrymander designed to favor Hispanic voters and, by extension, the Democratic Party. US Attorney General Pam Bondi called the redistricting plan a “brazen power grab.”

Prosecutor's Appointment Challenged: In a Virginia federal court, lawyers for former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James argued that the prosecutor who indicted them was unlawfully appointed. They contend that Lindsey Halligan, a former White House aide, was installed as interim US attorney to specifically target President Trump's political adversaries. A federal judge said she would rule on the matter by the Thanksgiving holiday, a decision that could lead to the dismissal of both high-profile cases.

Senator Hospitalized: Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was hospitalized on Thursday, November 13, after a fall during an early morning walk. His office stated he experienced a “ventricular fibrillation flare-up” that caused him to feel lightheaded. Fetterman, who suffered a near-fatal stroke in 2022, is reportedly in good condition and undergoing routine observation.