The US Southern Command, the Combatant Command responsible for Latin America and its adjacent waters, released a video on Friday promoting Operation Southern Spear and highlighting the US Marines’ presence in the Caribbean.
Since September, US forces in the Southern Command area of responsibility have conducted a series of military operations, including blowing up drug smuggling vessels, seizing Venezuelan oil tankers, and at least one land strike against a drug trafficking facility in Venezuela.
As The Gateway Pundit reported, President Trump confirmed that US forces conducted a land strike against a drug trafficking facility in Venezuela earlier this week.
“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago.
In what appears to be a warning to drug traffickers and a teaser for continued operations in 2026, the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, deployed in support of Operation Southern Spear, is seen training in preparation to further assist in these operations.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear, led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and US Southern Command, to protect the Western Hemisphere from narcoterrorists in November.
WATCH:
Southern Command said in an X post:
New year. Same mission: readiness and lethality. The @22nd_MEU hones their skills across land and sea, keeping the homeland and region secure.
U.S. military forces are deployed in support of #OpSouthernSpear, @DeptofWar-directed operations, and @POTUS’ priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.
U.S. Marines are training at Camp Santiago in Puerto Rico.
Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico#marines mortarmen with Weapons Company, BLT 3/6, 22nd MEU (SOC) fire M252A2 81mm mortar systems during a live-fire range on Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico, Dec. 13, 2025.@USMC@Southcom @DeptofWar pic.twitter.com/c9ZUaCaZkP
— 22nd MEU (@22nd_MEU) January 2, 2026
As The Gateway Pundit reported, US Southern Command destroyed five drug boats during the last two days of the year, bringing the total number of drug boats attacked to 35 since September 2, 2025.
At least 114 drug traffickers, likely smuggling fentanyl, which Trump designated as a weapon of mass destruction last month, were killed in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean Sea in 2025.
The post “New Year. Same Mission” – US Southern Command Releases EPIC Video Compilation of US Marines Caribbean Operations, Teases Continued 2026 Strikes Against Drug Boats and Venezuela (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.