Washington, 14 November 2025 (dpa/MIA) - US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced a new operation aiming to target "narco-terrorists."

"Today, I'm announcing Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR," Hegseth said in a post on social media platform X.

"Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and @SOUTHCOM, this mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people. The Western Hemisphere is America's neighborhood – and we will protect it."

The announcement comes after the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, arrived in the Caribbean earlier in the week. Washington says its military presence in the area aims to combat transnational criminal organizations and protect the US from illicit drugs.

Since September, US President Donald Trump's administration has authorized strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific on boats allegedly carrying narcotics to the US. The strikes are said to have killed dozens of people so far.

The actions have been widely criticized, partly because the Trump administration did not initially cite any legal basis for its actions.

UN human rights experts consider the attacks a violation of international law.

Photo: X