URGENT: US Commander Abruptly Retires Amid Venezuela Drug Boat Strike Operations

BREAKING NEWS: US Commander Abruptly Retires Amid Venezuela Drug Boat Strike Operations Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, commander of U.S. Southern Command, is retiring on December 17, just three months after taking the helm. This sudden departure comes as US forces have been involved in a series of deadly strikes against alleged drug boats off Venezuela's coast. Holsey's retirement was announced by the Defense Secretary and confirmed by sources within the Pentagon. The commander oversees military operations in the Caribbean Sea and waters off South America, an area where US forces have been conducting anti-drug trafficking missions. Admiral Holsey took command of U.S. Southern Command in November, a typical posting that lasts between three to four years. His retirement raises questions about the future of these operations and who will succeed him. The news comes just two days after the fifth deadly strike by US forces against an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. The Trump administration has taken a hardline stance on combating drug trafficking, treating alleged traffickers as unlawful combatants. This is a developing story, with further details and reactions expected to emerge in the coming hours and days. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Npr.*