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In fresh escalation, US announces 'Operation Southern Spear' in Caribbean

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 November 2025 11:43 PM

The United States has announced launch of the so-called "Operation Southern Spear," a new military escalation in the Caribbean, framed by Washington as intensified "war on drugs."

The operation, which involves advanced naval, aerial, and robotic strike technologies, was announced by the chief executive on Friday amid rising US interest in Venezuela.

The announcement followed widespread US military activity in the Caribbean over recent months, including strikes on vessels the Pentagon claims were involved in "drug trafficking."

Since September, the attacks have claimed at least 76 people in what human rights groups denounce as extrajudicial killings and breach of the international law.

According to reports, the new American operation gives the administration of US President Donald Trump a wide array of options, ranging from targeting alleged drug routes to potential action against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

A day earlier, senior American military officials had presented Trump with "updated options" for potential operations in Venezuela, including strikes on land, CBS News reported, citing multiple sources familiar with the meetings at the White House.

The development had seen Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, and other senior officials brief the president on military options for the coming days, the report noted.

Also on Thursday, Venezuela took preemptive measures, activating a nationwide defense command system unifying the military, police, and civilian institutions to protect strategic infrastructure.

Maduro signed the Comprehensive Homeland Defense Command legislation, bringing key electricity, water, fuel, and transportation systems under coordinated protection.

He emphasized the principle of "unity among the people, the army, and the police," stating that Venezuelan society had to be prepared to defend its sovereignty under any circumstances.

Washington's allies, the United Kingdom and Canada, have distanced themselves from the drive.

The UK has suspended sharing of maritime intelligence with the US over concerns that Washington was using British-provided information to carry out deadly and unlawful military strikes on so-called drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean.

Canada, another long-standing US partner in such operations, has also distanced itself from the strikes. While continuing to cooperate with the US Coast Guard under Operation Caribbean, Ottawa has formally instructed Washington not to use Canadian intelligence in any lethal operations.

Germany and Switzerland have also called for a peaceful solution to the escalating situation.