Hegseth announces Operation Southern Spear

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear on Nov. 13, 2025, putting a formal name on strikes U.S. Southern Command had run since September. He said the mission defends the homeland and removes narco-terrorists from the hemisphere. The announcement followed the 20th strike, with at least 80 people killed. A classified Justice Department memo recast the people on the boats as unlawful combatants the military could kill.