U.S. Southern Command Official Website

Jan 15 2026

Maritime Interdiction Operation, Jan. 15, 2026

Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, in support of the Dept. of Homeland Security, launched from USS Gerald R. Ford and apprehended M/T Veronica without incident.
Read More

Dec 31 2025

Lethal Kinetic Strikes, Dec. 31, 2025

On Dec. 31, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.
Read More

U.S. military members in camouflage uniforms and helmets point rifles.

Oct 31 2025

Multimedia of Operation Southern Spear

Download released photos and videos of forces deployed to the Caribbean in support of Operation Southern Spear.
Read More

Maritime Interdiction Operation, Jan. 15, 2026

Lethal Kinetic Strikes, Dec. 31, 2025

Multimedia of U.S. Forces in the Caribbean

News

Operation Southern Spear | Jan. 15, 2026

Maritime Interdiction Operation, Jan. 15, 2026

Operation Southern Spear | Jan. 9, 2026

Maritime Interdiction Operation, Jan. 9, 2026

In a pre-dawn action, Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford and apprehended Motor/Tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea without incident.

Operation Southern Spear | Jan. 7, 2026

Maritime Interdiction Operation, Jan. 7, 2026

In a pre-dawn action Jan. 7, the Department of War, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident.

Operation Southern Spear | Dec. 31, 2025

Lethal Kinetic Strikes, Dec. 31, 2025

On Dec. 31, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.

SOUTHCOM Commander

official bio photo of Lt. Gen. Evan L. Pettus

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan L. Pettus is the Acting Commander of U.S. Southern Command. Lt. Gen. Pettus assumed command Dec. 12, 2025.

Lt. Gen. Pettus Bio

SOUTHCOM Components

U.S. Air Forces Southern

U.S. Army South logo U.S. Army South

Marine Forces South logo U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South

4th Fleet logo U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command /
U.S. 4th Fleet

SOCSOUTH logo U.S. Special Operations Command South

Task Forces & Units

Joint Task Force Bravo logos Joint Task Force-Bravo

Joint Task Force Guantanamo logo Joint Task Force-Guantanamo

Joint Interagency Task Force South

Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation

Naval Small Craft Instruction & Technical Training School

Inter American Air Forces Academy

Videos

Video by Courtesy

Maritime Interdiction Operation, Jan. 15, 2026

U.S. Southern Command

Jan. 15, 2026 | 0:35

Through Operation Southern Spear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with U.S. Coast Guard through the Department of Homeland Security and The Justice Department. In another pre-dawn action, Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, launched from USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and apprehended Motor/Tanker Veronica without incident. The Veronica is the latest tanker operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean, proving the effectiveness of Operation Southern Spear yet again. These operations are backed by the full power of the U.S. Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, including the ready and lethal platforms of USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), USS San Antonio (LPD 17), and USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28). The only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully. The Department of War, in coordination with interagency partners, will defend our homeland by ending illicit activity and restoring security in the Western Hemisphere.