Washington, 17 October (H.S.): Admiral Alvin Holsey, the head of the U.S. military’s Southern Command, will step down at the end of the year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday. The unexpected departure comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela.

Admiral Holsey assumed leadership of Southern Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, just last year. The position typically carries a three-year term. A source familiar with the matter revealed there had been friction between Holsey and Hegseth, and there were questions in the days leading up to the announcement about whether the admiral would be dismissed.

Secretary Hegseth did not provide a reason for Holsey’s early departure in his social media post. The move coincides with President Donald Trump’s authorization of covert CIA operations in Venezuela and recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats off the Venezuelan coast.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar