Story perspectives

Operation Southern Spear Targets Narco-Terrorists with Robotics

11/16/2025

Summary

Story summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear on November 13, 2025.
The operation targets "narco-terrorists" in the Western Hemisphere.
It will employ a mix of robotic air and sea vessels.
Joint Task Force Southern Spear and U.S. Southern Command will coordinate the campaign.
The United States has identified Venezuelan military installations linked to drug trafficking as possible targets, and the operation has faced criticism for extrajudicial killings.

History

Historical Context

Operation Condor, initiated in 1975, was a coordinated effort by South American military regimes to eliminate leftist opposition, resulting in an estimated 60,000 deaths and disappearances. Supported by the United States, this campaign exemplified state terrorism during the Cold War. Today, Operation Southern Spear mirrors these tactics, targeting narco-terrorists in Venezuela, raising concerns about human rights violations reminiscent of past U.S. interventions.

1 of 2

Story summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear on November 13, 2025.
The operation targets "narco-terrorists" in the Western Hemisphere.
It will employ a mix of robotic air and sea vessels.
Joint Task Force Southern Spear and U.S. Southern Command will coordinate the campaign.
The United States has identified Venezuelan military installations linked to drug trafficking as possible targets, and the operation has faced criticism for extrajudicial killings.

1 / 2