U.S. Southern Command Official Website

Jan 09 2026

Maritime Interdiction Operation, Jan. 9, 2026

Marines and Sailors, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, launched from USS Gerald R. Ford and apprehended Motor/Tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea without incident.
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Jan 07 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.
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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.
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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.
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Maritime Interdiction Operation, Jan. 7, 2026

Lethal Kinetic Strikes, Dec. 31, 2025

Lethal Kinetic Strikes, Dec. 30, 2025

Multimedia of U.S. Forces in the Caribbean

Priorities

STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS

U.S. Naval Ship Comfort pulls into port in Miami, Florida

COUNTER THREATS

U.S., Chilean Marines conduct live-fire ranges during Exercise UNITAS 2024

BUILD OUR TEAM

A soldier in a camouflage unform speaks with other soldiers in the jungle.

News

Operation Southern Spear | Jan. 9, 2026

Maritime Interdiction Operation, Jan. 9, 2026

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.

Operation Southern Spear | Dec. 31, 2025

Lethal Kinetic Strikes, Dec. 30, 2025

On Dec. 30, at the direction of Secretary of war Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy.

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. 9, 2026

U.S. Southern Command

Jan. 9, 2026 | 0:40

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. Apprehensions like this are backed by the full power of the U.S. Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, including the ready and lethal platforms of the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale. The Department of War’s Operation Southern Spear is unwavering in its mission to defend our homeland by ending illicit activity and restoring security in the Western Hemisphere.