Month: November 2025

The USS Gerald R. Ford entered the Caribbean Sea on Sunday, marking the most significant U.S. military buildup in the region in decades.

The Navy confirmed the carrier strike group’s arrival as it moved through the Anegada Passage near the British Virgin Islands, completing what officials describe as a sweeping deployment under “Operation Southern Spear.” With the aircraft carrier’s entry, roughly 12,000 U.S. personnel and nearly a dozen Navy vessels are now positioned across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials continue to frame the operation as an effort to curb narcotics trafficking, a justification that has accompanied a series of U.S. strikes on small boats since early September. At least 80 people have been killed across roughly 20–21 interdictions, though the administration has offered no public evidence to support claims that those targeted were “narcoterrorists.”

Adm. Alvin Holsey, head of U.S. Southern Command, said the Ford’s deployment underscores Washington’s intent to confront transnational criminal networks, declaring, “Through unwavering commitment and the precise use of our forces, we stand ready to combat the transnational threats that seek to destabilize our region.” He added that the carrier’s arrival represents “a critical step in reinforcing our resolve to protect the security of the Western Hemisphere and the safety of the American Homeland.”

Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, who leads the Ford’s strike group — which includes fighter squadrons and guided-missile destroyers — said the expanded fleet aims to “protect our nation’s security and prosperity against narco-terrorism in the Western Hemisphere.”

The deployment is widely viewed as a pressure tactic aimed at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom the U.S. government does not recognize as the country’s legitimate leader. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described Maduro’s regime as a “transshipment organization” for drug traffickers, accusations Maduro has denied while claiming Washington is “fabricating” a pretext for military confrontation.

Venezuela, meanwhile, announced a nationwide military exercise reportedly involving around 200,000 personnel, a move seen as preparation for potential conflict. Maduro and other officials have argued that Washington’s expanding military footprint is intended to force a change in leadership.

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One of Ecuador’s most sought-after crime figures was taken into custody in Spain on Sunday, ending years on the run after he staged his own death during the pandemic. President Daniel Noboa confirmed that Wilmer Chavarria — known by the alias “Pipo” — was detained in Malaga in a coordinated operation with Spanish authorities. Spain’s National Police released an image showing Chavarria in a black-and-green tracksuit as officers led him to a patrol vehicle.

Investigators say Chavarria headed Los Lobos, a violent criminal network estimated to have roughly 8,000 members and recently designated a terrorist organization by the United States. The group has been tied to high-profile assassinations and is suspected of maintaining ties to Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Another senior figure in the group, Carlos D — widely known as “El Chino” — was arrested earlier this year in Portoviejo. Authorities described him as the syndicate’s second-in-command and a “high-value target.”

According to Noboa, Chavarria vanished in 2021 by faking his death, securing new documents, and relocating to Spain, where he allegedly continued directing drug routes, issuing assassination orders and extorting Ecuador’s gold-mining sector from abroad.

Chavarria’s capture coincides with a national referendum asking voters whether to amend the constitution to permit foreign militaries to operate bases on Ecuadorian soil. President Noboa argues such a change is essential to expand joint security efforts with partners like the United States and strengthen the country’s capacity to confront entrenched trafficking groups.

Ecuador also continues to face destabilizing gang violence even after the dramatic recapture of Los Choneros leader Adolfo Macías in June following his escape from a maximum-security facility. He was extradited to the United States the following month to face drug and weapons charges. U.S. officials say Los Lobos emerged from within Los Choneros as a hired-gun faction that later split off, gaining power amid fractures in the older gang’s hierarchy. The group has been accused of orchestrating the killing of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in 2023, fueling deadly prison uprisings, and expanding into murder-for-hire and illegal mining operations in addition to its drug-trafficking activities.

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A massive ammonia leak late Wednesday night in Weatherford, Oklahoma sent dozens to the hospital and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes, according to local authorities. Officials lifted evacuation orders Thursday morning after air quality levels returned to safe conditions. Weatherford, a city of about 12,000 residents, is located roughly 70 miles west of Oklahoma City

The incident began around 10 p.m. when an 8,500-gallon tanker truck parked outside a Holiday Inn Express began leaking anhydrous ammonia, a toxic chemical commonly used in fertilizer and industrial applications. Weatherford Police Chief Angelo Orefice said crews quickly responded and managed to stop the leak. However, before the situation was contained, a thick plume of gas spread across a wide area, forcing emergency evacuations.

Weatherford Emergency Manager Mike Karlin said that “as the event unfolded, we had a large plume of anhydrous ammonia gas spread over a pretty large area.” Karlin estimated between 500 and 600 people were displaced, though Orefice noted the number was likely closer to 300–500 as the situation evolved.

Anhydrous ammonia, a colorless gas with a pungent odor, can cause severe burns and respiratory damage upon exposure. While commonly used in fertilizers for crops such as corn and wheat, it poses serious health risks in concentrated form. Authorities confirmed that approximately 36 people received medical attention, with 11 transported to nearby hospitals and four airlifted to Oklahoma City in critical condition. Residents reported experiencing severe respiratory distress as first responders went door to door in gas masks, warning people to evacuate.

Emergency alerts were sent out shortly after the leak, instructing people to “Evacuate north to Davis Ave and from Washington Ave to Lyle Rd. Safety location is Pioneer Cellular Center. If you are having medical symptoms, call 911, or medical personnel located at Ace Hardware.”

Several nursing homes were cleared, and both Southwest Oklahoma State University and Weatherford Public Schools canceled classes Thursday. The university advised, “First responders on scene have recommended that all students in SWOSU on-campus housing shelter in place due to the fumes. Students in residence halls should remain indoors, keep windows and doors closed.”

A public safety notice also urged businesses and residents in certain areas to stay indoors until further notice. Interstate 40 exits leading into Weatherford were temporarily closed, and hazmat teams worked through the night alongside the Oklahoma National Guard to contain and neutralize the leak. Officials said calm winds initially slowed efforts to disperse the gas, but by early Thursday the air was deemed safe, and residents were allowed to return. Orefice advised that any clothing worn during the incident be placed outdoors to allow remaining ammonia residue to dissipate.

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A West Virginia coal miner who had been missing for more than a week inside a flooded mine was found dead Thursday morning, ending an exhaustive search that gripped the local community and mining industry.

The coal miner, identified as foreman Steve Lipscomb, 42, was from Elkview, West Virginia., was working alongside a 17-person crew when a pocket of water burst inside the Rolling Thunder Mine, flooding the tunnels. Lipscomb became trapped Saturday afternoon inside the mine, after rushing to help his crew escape the flooding. Alpha Metallurgical Resources, the mining company, said in a statement Thursday that “during routine operations, a crew in the underground mine encountered a sudden and substantial inflow of water .. He was last seen trying to ensure his crew made it out safely. All 17 other miners made it to safety.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced on X that at about 6 a.m. EST, “water levels inside the Rolling Thunder Mine in Nicholas County had receded sufficiently for rescue crews to safely enter. The team began their search, examining every section as they advanced underground. At 7:37 a.m., one two-man team located the body of the missing miner, foreman Steve Lipscomb. This morning’s news is absolutely heartbreaking. Denise and I are devastated to learn of the loss of Mr. Lipscomb, and we are praying for his family, friends, and co-workers during this difficult time.” Morissey praised the rescue teams who worked “tirelessly” in dangerous conditions, adding that “their commitment and professionalism have been unwavering throughout the operation.” He added that mining is deeply woven into West Virginia’s identity: “Our state knows this kind of pain all too well. Mining is more than an industry here — it’s a brotherhood, a way of life, and a source of pride. When tragedy strikes, we grieve together, we stand together, and we support one another as one West Virginia family.”

Nicholas County Commissioner Garret Cole said the flooding occurred when miners struck a large pocket of water during routine operations. Lipscomb was believed to be trapped about three-quarters of a mile underground. Crews worked “around the clock” in 12-hour shifts, pumping millions of gallons of water from the mine and drilling new entry points in hopes of reaching him. By Tuesday, officials said water was being removed at a rate of roughly 6,000 gallons per minute, but the scale of flooding and blocked tunnels made progress slow and perilous. Dive teams were deployed several times but were unable to reach deep sections of the mine until water levels finally dropped this week. Lipscomb’s body was recovered shortly after 7:30 a.m., about 90 minutes after crews finally gained safe access to the mine.

Alpha Metallurgical Resources CEO Andy Eidson called Lipscomb’s death a devastating loss for the company and community:  “Our hearts are broken. Steve joined our company in 2006 and was a dedicated employee, respected leader and friend to many. His actions to ensure the safety of his crew members were heroic. On behalf of the entire organization, we extend our prayers and deepest sympathies to his wife, two children and all who knew and cared for him.”

This is the second mining fatality in West Virginia this month and the fifth in the state this year. A full investigation into the accident is being conducted by federal and state authorities.

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