Head of US command overseeing Trump ‘drug boat’ strikes steps down after expressing concern with the attacks: report
Admiral Alvin Holsey, head of U.S. Southern Command, leads the strikes Embers He resigned after voicing concerns about attacks on the administration’s alleged Venezuelan drug boats, according to a new report.
Over the past few weeks, Special Operations forces have attacked at least five boats off the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea that the White House claims were carrying drugs. A total of 27 people lost their lives in the attacks.
Just this week, Trump announced a boat attack in which six suspected drug traffickers were killed.
“The attack was carried out in International Waters and 6 male narcoterrorists on the ship were killed. No US forces were harmed. Thank you for your interest in this matter!!!!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday.
Two days later the Minister of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that Holsey would retire early from the Navy. Holsey assumed the commander role after serving as deputy commander last November.
Adm. Alvin Holsey, head of U.S. Southern Command, which oversaw attacks on what the Trump administration claimed were Venezuelan drug boats, resigned after voicing concerns about the attacks, according to a new report (William J. Seifert/U.S. Southern Command)
“On behalf of the War Department, we express our deepest gratitude to Admiral Alvin Holsey, who plans to retire at the end of the year, for his more than 37 years of distinguished service to our nation,” Hegseth said. wrote X on Thursday.
The timing of Holsey’s retirement is odd, considering it’s been less than a year since Holsey took up his current position.
New York Times Citing an unnamed US official, it reported that Holsey had expressed concerns about the alleged drug ship attacks and Southern Command’s overall counter-drug and counter-terrorism mission. Southern Command, which covers Central and South America, currently has approximately 10,000 troops in the region. NYT.
Holsey said in his statement: Independent Southern Command said, “It has been a great honor to serve as your commander and deputy for the past 34 months.
The SOUTHCOM team has made lasting contributions to our nation’s defense and will continue to do so. “I believe you will move forward focused on your mission that strengthens our nation and ensures its longevity as a beacon of freedom around the world.”
Over the past few weeks, Special Operations forces have attacked at least five boats off the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea (Donald Trump/Truth Social)
Holsey said he will retire on December 12.
“Please let this be a warning to anyone considering bringing drugs into the United States,” Trump said on Sept. 2, when he announced the first boat attack that killed 11 people.
As overdose deaths remain high, the president is struggling to keep drugs out of the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are driving this overdose death crisis. However, fentanyl is mostly brought to the US from here MexicanNegative Venezuelan.
The Trump administration said it “has been determined that the United States is engaged in a non-international armed conflict with these terrorist organizations,” according to a memorandum submitted to Congress. Independent. As a result, the Pentagon was ordered to “conduct operations against them in accordance with the law of armed conflict.”
When Trump announced the first boat attack on September 2, he warned: ‘Please let this be a warning to anyone considering bringing drugs into the United States’ (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Some have raised concerns about the legality of the attacks, as the White House has failed to provide any evidence that the targeted boats were carrying drugs.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino insisted last week that the US government knew the boats were not being used for drug smuggling.
The Senate even tried last week to pass a war powers resolution that would prevent the Trump administration from carrying out the strikes unless Congress authorizes it. It failed 51-48, with two GOP lawmakers voting in favor of nearly all Democrats.
