Overview
- Admiral Alvin Holsey formally retired in a ceremony near Miami, handing U.S. Southern Command to Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan Pettus on an interim basis.
- Reuters reports attribute Holsey’s exit to pressure from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, while Holsey has told lawmakers his decision was unrelated to operations.
- Lawmakers are examining the legality of recent U.S. attacks on suspected narcotics vessels, including a September follow-on strike that killed two survivors.
- Current reporting counts about 22 strikes that have killed at least 87 people and notes a recent U.S. seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela.
- The White House has not selected a permanent successor, and a Reuters source says President Trump is considering Lt. Gen. Frank Donovan for the post.