Background on Key Figures and Context
The United States Department of Defense, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth, announced the launch of a military operation targeting “narco-terrorists” in Latin America. This announcement comes a day after the deployment of a new aircraft carrier to the region and amidst recent Pentagon attacks in Caribbean waters, resulting in over 70 fatalities.
Secretary Hegseth’s statement was made on his X (formerly Twitter) account, emphasizing the protection of the Western Hemisphere, which he described as America’s backyard. He highlighted that President Donald Trump ordered these actions, and the Department of War (the term used by the current US administration for the Pentagon) is carrying them out.
Recent Military Actions and Their Impact
Hegseth’s announcement followed the confirmation of four deaths in another US military attack earlier in the week in Caribbean waters, as reported by Pentagon sources to CBS and later to CNN.
This recent attack marks the twentieth action by Washington since Hegseth announced two previous strikes against vessels carrying three crew members each, with no survivors. The death toll from Pentagon-directed bombings targeting alleged narco-boats since mid-September now stands at 80, according to both television networks.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who launched the operation? The operation, named ‘Southern Strike,’ was announced by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, leading the US Department of Defense.
- Against whom is the operation targeted? The operation aims to combat “narco-terrorists” in Latin America, as described by Hegseth.
- When was the operation announced? The announcement came a day after another significant military deployment in Latin America and amidst recent attacks in the Caribbean.
- What is the significance of the Western Hemisphere? According to Hegseth, the Western Hemisphere is America’s backyard and will be protected by these military actions.
- How many people have been killed in recent attacks? Over 70 fatalities have resulted from these Pentagon-directed attacks since mid-September.
- What is the total death toll from recent bombings? The death toll from these bombings now stands at 80, according to CBS and CNN.
