ADMIRAL IN CHARGE OF VENEZUELAN BOAT STRIKES RESIGNS. (PHOTO).

 Admiral in charge of Venezuelan boat strikes resigns

Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, who has led U.S. Southern Command for roughly a year, announced he will step down and retire from the Navy in mid-December after decades of service. SOUTHCOM, which Holsey has headed, oversees U.S. military operations across Central and South America and the Caribbean Sea, a region where warships have recently concentrated and troops have been involved in strikes that have killed more than two dozen people accused by the Trump administration of drug smuggling and other illicit activity.

In a statement shared on X, Holsey praised his team’s work, saying, “The SOUTHCOM team has made lasting contributions to the defense of our nation and will continue to do so.” He did not directly address the recent operations against suspected drug vessels. Reports indicate Holsey had voiced concerns about these military strikes, and there was reported tension between him and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) described Holsey’s “unexpected resignation” as “troubling,” noting that it comes at a critical time as U.S. forces build up in the Caribbean amid heightened tensions with Venezuela. Reed warned that the departure of the top military commander in the region could signal instability within the chain of command, raising concerns about ongoing operations and regional security.