After nearly a month of supporting foreign humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (FHA/DR) operations under authorities granted by the U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense, at the request of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo) concluded immediate response missions for hurricanes [ … ]
Recent News
ELN Leader Alias Uriel Neutralized in Colombia
During a joint operation, the Colombian Military Forces and the National Police neutralized on October 25, 2020, Andrés Felipe Vanegas Londoño, alias Uriel, a leader of the National Liberation Army (ELN, in Spanish) who was identified as the third commander of the western war front. “One of the most visible [ … ]
JTF-Bravo Assets Return from Guatemala, Continue Relief Support in Honduras
A task force of approximately 25 people and three aircraft assigned to the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo) returned to Honduras from Guatemala City, Guatemala, on November 28. Their return comes after the U.S. military personnel rapidly deployed to Guatemala City for a second time [ … ]
Peru Establishes Command to Counter Narcotrafficking, Terrorism in VRAEM
The Peruvian government has taken a new step toward pacifying the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers Valley (VRAEM, in Spanish), by creating a command combining the Peruvian Armed Forces and the National Police (PNP, in Spanish) to respond to narcotrafficking and terrorism in the vast region, the Ministry of Defense [ … ]
Honduras Seeks to Disrupt Cocaine Trafficking Coming from Venezuela
On October 21, the Honduran Air Force, upon receiving intelligence from Colombia, intercepted a narco-aircraft in Brus Laguna municipality, Gracias a Dios department, coming from Venezuela, the Honduran Office of the Attorney General said in a statement. In total, authorities counted more than 200 kilograms of cocaine that the aircraft [ … ]
Colombian ELN Rebel Commander Killed in Military Operation
Commander Uriel, one of the main leaders of Colombia’s left-wing National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels, was killed during a military operation, President Iván Duque announced on October 25. “This is a particularly important blow [to the ELN] because one of the most visible figures of this terrorist organization has fallen,” [ … ]
US B-52H Train with Colombian Air Force, Ecuadorean Navy
Two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircraft participated in Brother’s Shield, a Colombian Air Force-led exercise, and in UNITAS LXI, an Ecuadorean Navy-led exercise in U.S. Southern Command’s Area of Responsibility, November 8, 2020. This twofold mission began well before the B-52 crews took off that morning; there have been [ … ]
China’s Development Projects Export Environmental Devastation
The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) state-owned companies are destroying the environment in countries around the world, one corrupt infrastructure project at a time. The PRC is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and mercury pollution and the leading consumer of illegal wildlife and timber products. And the PRC’s [ … ]
The Two Choices for Venezuela’s Future
As the fraudulent December 6 elections raise questions about the future of Venezuela, one thing remains clear: Venezuelans cannot have democracy while an illegitimate authoritarian regime is in power, says the U.S. Department of State. “Many of Venezuela’s most popular politicians are not permitted to run in the election, opposition [ … ]
As Fraudulent Election Nears, Maduro Cracks Down On Journalists
Ahead of the unconstitutional and fraudulent December 6 parliamentary elections in Venezuela, the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro is cracking down on journalists. The Venezuelan constitution protects freedom of expression, forbids censorship, and guarantees access to information. However, Venezuela has fallen 31 places since 2014 in the World Press Freedom [ … ]
Four Ways USAID is Responding to Hurricanes Iota and Eta
On November 16, Hurricane Iota made landfall as a category 5 storm with sustained winds of nearly 155 mph. This comes just two weeks after Hurricane Eta brought heavy rains, severe flooding, and landslides to many of the same areas. An estimated 4.9 million people were affected by Hurricane Eta [ … ]
El Salvador Seizes 1.2 Tons of Cocaine in One Day
Salvadoran authorities seized 1.2 tons of cocaine during two simultaneous operations on October 12, 2020. It was the largest seizure in 10 years in the fight against international narcotrafficking, said Rogelio Rivas, Salvadoran minister of Justice and Public Security. “The Antinarcotics Division [...] and the National Civil Police have dealt [ … ]