Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday that the growing U.S. military's anti-drug campaign in the Caribbean will now be known as “Operation Southern Lance.”

According to the Republican politician, “this designation underscores the growing scale and long-term nature of the mission, which began as part of the Trump administration's effort to combat narcoterrorism in the region.”

Under this argument, U.S. forces have carried out at least 17 attacks against vessels in South American waters, causing the deaths of at least 69 people, a situation that organizations and voices such as that of Colombian President Gustavo Petro have described as extrajudicial killings.

According to Hegseth, the operation will include about a dozen Navy ships and some 12,000 sailors and marines positioned in the area following the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.

In the announcement, Hegseth said, “President Trump ordered action, and the Department of War is delivering. Today I announce Operation Southern Spear. Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and U.S. Southern Command, this mission defends our homeland, expels narcoterrorists from our hemisphere, and protects our homeland from the Drugs are killing our people. The Western Hemisphere is America's neighborhood, and we will protect it.” This announcement came shortly after news broke that the U.S. military had conducted its 20th deadly strike against a suspected drug-trafficking vessel on Monday. The strike killed four people in the Caribbean Sea, the Pentagon said.