Overview
- Holsey confirmed he will leave U.S. Southern Command on Dec. 12, less than a year after taking the post that typically runs three to four years.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised Holsey’s 37 years of service without giving a reason for the departure, as reporting cited unnamed officials saying Holsey raised concerns that the Pentagon publicly denied.
- U.S. forces have carried out at least five deadly strikes on alleged drug boats, with roughly 27 reported killed, and CBS News reported a sixth strike on Thursday in which some passengers survived, citing a U.S. official.
- Roughly 10,000 U.S. personnel, eight Navy ships and a submarine are deployed in the region, B-52 bombers flew near Venezuela this week, and President Trump confirmed authorizing CIA covert action and said he is considering land options.
- Lawmakers from both parties are pressing for the legal rationale and underlying intelligence, and tensions with Caracas have risen as Venezuela condemns the operations.