United States Southern Command Press Releases

Lethal Kinetic Strike, September 9, 2026

Press Operations — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:25:46 GMT

On September 9, under the direction of U.S. Southern Command, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere executed a lethal kinetic strike on a go-fast vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean.

Interdiction of Narco-Terrorist Refueling Vessel, Sept. 8, 2026

Press Operations — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:03:46 GMT

On September 8, under the direction of U.S. Southern Command, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a floating refueling station supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific.

Interdiction of Narco-Terrorist Refueling Vessel, Sept. 7, 2026

Press Operations — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 21:52:40 GMT

On Sept. 7, under the direction of U.S. Southern Command, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a floating refueling station supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific.

Interdiction of Narco-Terrorist Refueling Vessel, Sept. 5, 2026

Press Operations — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 23:18:54 GMT

On Sept. 5, at the direction of U.S. Southern Command, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a multi-vessel floating refueling station in support of illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific.

Interdiction of Narco-Terrorist Refueling Vessel, Sept. 3, 2026

Press Operations — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:18:00 GMT

On Sept. 3, at the direction of U.S. Southern Command Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, and in coordination and collaboration with the Government of Ecuador, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) successfully interdicted a vessel operating as a floating refueling station in support of illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in international waters of the Eastern Pacific. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was operating in support of the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization.

Interdiction of Narco-Terrorist Refueling Vessel, Sept. 2, 2026

Press Operations — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 23:04:00 GMT

On Sept. 2, at the direction of U.S. Southern Command Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, and in coordination and collaboration with the Government of Ecuador, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) successfully interdicted a vessel operating as a floating refueling station in support of illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in international waters of the Eastern Pacific.

Interdiction of Narco-Terrorist Refueling Vessel, Aug. 28, 2026

Press Operations — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:52:00 GMT

On Aug. 28, at the direction of U.S. Southern Command Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, and in coordination and collaboration with the Government of Ecuador, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) successfully interdicted a vessel operating as a floating refueling station in support of illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in international waters of the Eastern Pacific.

Gen. Donovan Visits Colombia

Press Operations — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 23:09:30 GMT

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Commander of U.S. Southern Command, completed his first official visit to Colombia, meeting with Colombian Minister of Defense Jorge Eduardo Mora and the General Commander of the Colombian Military Forces, Gen. Erik Rodriguez Aparicio.

Lethal Kinetic Strike, August 25, 2026

Press Operations — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:27:45 GMT

On August 25, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere executed a lethal kinetic strike on a go-fast vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean.

Lethal Kinetic Strike, August 23, 2026

Press Operations — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 05:32:11 GMT

On August 23, under the commander of U.S. Southern Command, Gen. Francis L. Donovan’s direction, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere executed a lethal kinetic strike on a low-profile vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific.

Gen. Donovan Visits Ecuador

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 23:34:00 GMT

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Commander of U.S. Southern Command, completed his third official visit to Ecuador today, which included high-level dialogue meetings with Ecuadorian Minister of Defense Gian Carlo Loffredo Rendon and Ecuadorian Chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces, Gen. Henry Santiago Delgado Salvador.

Gen. Donovan Visits Panama

Press Operations — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 19:46:22 GMT

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, conducted a five-day scheduled visit to Panama to reinforce regional security objectives, review exercise PANAMAX 2026 multinational training, and join senior leaders, including U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, for a high-level counter-cartel forum.

U.S. Southern Command establishes Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere

Press Operations — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 20:15:00 GMT

U.S. Southern Command activated Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) today, a purpose-built, joint task force that will synchronize U.S. military operations with allies and partners to counter threats, strengthen regional security, and respond rapidly to crises across the Western Hemisphere.

Panama to host multinational PANAMAX exercise Aug. 3-13

Press Operations — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:26:00 GMT

Panama is set to host participants from 18 partner nations, including the United States, for the PANAMAX 2026 exercise Aug. 3-13, 2026. PANAMAX 2026 will provide participating nations an opportunity to conduct combined security and stability operations to enhance their joint-operations capabilities. The field-training exercise will focus on a coalition response to a notional scenario and will leverage a holistic, integrated approach against simulated threats to the Panama Canal and the region.

Gen. Donovan Visits Ecuador

Press Operations — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:08:00 GMT

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Commander of U.S. Southern Command, was in Ecuador for a two-day scheduled visit where he met with Ecuadorian Chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces, Gen. Henry Santiago Delgado Salvador, to discuss bilateral defense partnership objectives. The primary focus of their meeting was coordinating efforts to disrupt narco-terrorism and cartels, a key initiative of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition.

RELEASE: Update on SOUTHCOM support to Venezuela earthquake relief, July 3

Press Operations — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:05:17 GMT

Updates on the U.S. military’s ongoing support to the State Department-led U.S. government earthquake relief response in Venezuela.

RELEASE: Update on SOUTHCOM support to Venezuela earthquake relief, July 2

Press Operations — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:13:00 GMT

At the direction of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), nearly 2,000 U.S. military troops continue supporting the State Department-led U.S. government earthquake relief response in Venezuela near the epicenter of the June 24 devastating earthquakes and at logistics hubs in Puerto Rico and Curaçao.

RELEASE: Update on SOUTHCOM support to Venezuela earthquake relief, July 1

Press Operations — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 17:06:01 GMT

At the direction of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the U.S. military continues supporting the State Department-led U.S. government earthquake relief response in Venezuela.

RELEASE: Update on SOUTHCOM support to Venezuela earthquake relief, June 30

Press Operations — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:31:17 GMT

At the direction of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the U.S. military continues supporting the State Department-led U.S. government earthquake relief response in Venezuela.

RELEASE: Update on SOUTHCOM support to Venezuela earthquake relief, June 29

Press Operations — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 19:50:00 GMT

At the direction of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), U.S. military capabilities continue arriving in Venezuela to support ongoing U.S. earthquake relief efforts requested by the Venezuelan government and led by the State Department.