After the airstrikes… the United States unveils Southern Javelin against drug trafficking

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The United States has launched a new military operation in Latin America, weeks after conducting strikes in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean targeting vessels allegedly linked to drug trafficking.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the start of this military operation in the region against “drug traffickers,” amid concerns that the growing U.S. military presence off the coast could pave the way for land strikes and a wider conflict.

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In a post on the X platform on Thursday, Hegseth wrote: “I am announcing Operation Southern Javelin,” noting that “this mission aims to defend our homeland, eliminate terrorist drug traffickers… and protect our nation from the drugs that are killing our people.”

Hegseth provided no further details about the operation nor explained how it differs from the strikes launched weeks earlier.

The administration of President Donald Trump has been carrying out strikes in the Caribbean and the Pacific against boats Washington claims are transporting narcotics.

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Air and naval assets have been deployed, most notably the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, whose arrival off the coast of Latin America was announced on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a Defense Department official told CNN that the Pentagon conducted its twentieth strike against a boat allegedly linked to the drug trade earlier this week.

According to the official, “the strike took place in the Caribbean region and resulted in the death of four drug traffickers, with no survivors.”

Officials in the Trump administration have acknowledged that they do not necessarily know the identities of those on board the vessels before targeting them.

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This latest strike raises the total number of deaths from U.S. attacks on drug-related boats to 80.

CNN reported that the military is using a range of fighter jets, drones, and attack helicopters to carry out the strikes as part of a campaign aimed, according to officials, at disrupting the flow of drugs into the United States.

When asked for clarification regarding the nature of Operation Southern Javelin, the Pentagon spokesperson simply referred back to Hegseth’s statement on X.

Washington has yet to provide any evidence showing that these vessels are indeed used for drug trafficking.

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Criticism and concerns

The U.S. strikes have drawn international criticism and raised fears that the United States ultimately aims to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

According to CBS News, citing several sources, military officials have presented President Trump with additional options for possible operations in Venezuela, including airstrikes on its territory.

Venezuela announced on Tuesday that its military had been deployed “massively” across the country in response to “American imperialism.”

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The government cited a “large-scale deployment of ground, air, naval, and riverine assets, missiles, weapon systems, military units, and Bolivarian militias” made up of civilians and former soldiers assisting the army and police.

Caracas fears that the U.S. military buildup—which includes F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico and six warships in the Caribbean—could be a prelude to regime change and the overthrow of its president.

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