WASHINGTON (AP) – A Navy admiral who oversees military operations in areas where U.S. troops are stationed. Attacked a ship believed to be a drug smuggler The ship will be decommissioned off the coast of Venezuela in December, he and his defense secretary announced Thursday.
Admiral Alvin Holsey became commander of the U.S. Southern Command in November, overseeing an area that included the Caribbean Sea and waters off the coast of South America. This type of post usually lasts 3-4 years.
News of Halsey’s impending retirement comes two days after the U.S. military’s fifth deadly attack on a small boat suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean. He claimed the Trump administration was treating suspected drug traffickers unfairly. illegal combatant We must counter anyone with military force.
Frustration over the attack is growing at the Capitol. Some Republicans have asked the White House for more information about the legal legitimacy and details of the strikes, while Democrats say they violate U.S. and international law.
“It has been an honor to serve our country and the American people for more than 37 years, supporting and defending the Constitution,” Holsey said in a statement posted on the military’s Facebook page.
“The Southcom team has made and will continue to make a lasting contribution to our nation’s defense,” he said. “I am confident that you will move forward focused on our mission to strengthen our country and ensure its continued existence as a beacon of freedom around the world.”
U.S. Southern Command provided no further information beyond the admiral’s statement.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a post on Broadcast X Thursday afternoon that he is grateful for Halsey’s “decades of service to our country, and we wish him and his family continued success and fulfillment.”
“Admiral Holsey demonstrated an unwavering dedication to our mission, our people, and our nation,” Hegseth wrote.
Pentagon officials provided no further information and referred the AP to Hegseth’s statements on social media.
The New York Times first reported on Halsey’s plans to resign.
