US Marine Corps general, commander of US Southern Command since Feb 2026
The US has continued its campaign against vessels it identifies as drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Officials say several vessels have been destroyed with fatalities reported, though no public evidence has been released linking the targets to drug cargo. The White House asserts the actions are lawful and part of an armed conflict with cartels; critics call the strikes illegal and indiscriminate.
The United States has expanded sanctions and enforced an energy blockade that has cut fuel supplies to Cuba, targeted President Miguel Díaz‑Canel, members of the Castro family and military institutions, and has indicted former president Raúl Castro; the measures have deepened power outages, food and medicine shortages and drawn condemnation from the UN human rights commissioner.
Cuba faces heightened tension as US pressure intensifies amid oil blockades and drone acquisitions discussions. Washington warns against weapons that could threaten bases like Guantánamo Bay, while diplomats anticipate the World Cup in Miami could affect calculations on possible military action.
U.S. forces have carried out an airstrike that has killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as Niño Guerrero, the leader of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, U.S. and Venezuelan officials have said. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump have said the operation targeted a compound in Bolívar state earlier this week and involved coordination with Venezuelan security forces.
Twinning earthquakes have killed thousands and injured thousands more in Venezuela. The government reports rising tolls over the week, with La Guaira hardest hit. International aid flows in as rescue teams search for survivors amid damaged infrastructure and mounting missing-person reports.