US Officials Brief Congress on 'Operation Southern Spear' Against Venezuela

Briefings on 'Operation Southern Spear'

• 🇺🇸 Secretaries of War Pete Hegseth and State Marco Rubio briefed senators and representatives on "Operation Southern Spear," a campaign targeting Venezuela.
• 🤝 These classified hearings, described as bipartisan engagements, aim to update Congress on the mission's development and progress.
• 🎯 The operation focuses on dismantling the infrastructure of terrorist organizations operating in the hemisphere that threaten American security and citizens.

Mission Success and Transparency

• ✅ The mission is described as highly successful in combating designated terrorist organizations and cartels that traffic drugs into the U.S.
• 🗣️ Officials expressed pride in presenting the mission's details directly to senators and soon to the House.
• 🎬 While classified briefings are ongoing, the administration will allow House and Senate committees to view unedited video footage of a September 2nd strike.

Policy on Public Video Release

• 🔒 In line with long-standing Department of Defense policy, unedited, top-secret video footage will not be released to the general public.
• 🏛️ Access to the footage will be restricted to the relevant committees, not the broader public.

Broader Context and Reactions

• ⚖️ Senator Lindsey Graham commented that the legality of the strikes is not the primary issue for him; rather, he is focused on the next steps and potential regime change in Venezuela.
• 🚢 The briefings followed three additional boat strikes conducted in the Caribbean this week, aimed at countering terrorism and drug cartels.