‘There is no other communication intent’: SouthCom shares image from operation that’s killed 87 people, and critics notice what’s missing and what’s front and center

The U.S. military posted a picture on social media about an operation involving missile strikes that have killed dozens of people in the Caribbean Sea. The post showed no American flags, but it clearly displayed a large cross. Many people see the Jerusalem Cross, which is the fancy design shown in the image, as a simple sign of Christian faith. 

However, some people use it to celebrate the Christian Crusades’ control over Muslims nearly a thousand years ago. According to HuffPost, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was banned from working security at President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration because he has a large Jerusalem Cross tattooed on his chest.

When Hegseth talked about that experience, he called the Jerusalem Cross “just a Christian symbol.” U.S. Southern Command, which handles U.S. military work in South America and the Caribbean, posted an image on Monday that showed this Christian symbol front and center.

The military strikes have raised serious questions about their true purpose

SouthCom has carried out at least 22 strikes that resulted in about 87 deaths in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean. The strikes are part of what the administration calls Operation Southern Spear.

“U.S. military forces are deployed to the #SOUTHCOM area of responsibility in support of #OpSouthernSpear, @DeptofWar-directed operations, and @POTUS’ priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland,” SouthCom’s post said on X. They shared similar versions on Facebook and Instagram. Earlier, Hegseth announced the controversial narco-terrorist operation that has drawn widespread criticism.

“This violates the First Amendment Establishment Clause. You’re promoting Christianity, a very specific form at that. On top of that, you really think it’ll help our missions to be seen as a crusader?”, a U.S. veteran commented on the post.

Col. Emanuel Ortiz, a U.S. Southern Command spokesperson, told HuffPost in an email that “The graphic was an illustration of service members in a ready posture during Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR. There is no other communication intent for this image.”

The administration claims the boats they are targeting are bringing drugs to the United States, but they have not shown solid proof of this claim. They also say the suspected drug runners are actually members of a terrorist group. According to the administration, this makes them valid targets for military strikes instead of Coast Guard drug stops, which usually don’t involve deadly force. However, critics have accused officials of bending the truth about the operation’s real goals.

Besides killing suspected drug smugglers by claiming they are militant terrorists, the administration is facing criticism for a “double tap” strike. This involved killing survivors from the first strike with another round of fire. Hegseth has defended that strike.