22nd MEU Returns After Capturing Venezuelan President Maduro
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group returned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, after a 10-month deployment. They participated in Operation Southern Spear against Caribbean narcoterrorism, captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, reinforced U.S. embassies in Haiti and Venezuela, delivered 780,000 pounds of aid to Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa, and conducted regional exercises.
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24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Deploys to Caribbean as Crisis Response Force
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), consisting of approximately 1,300 Marines from Camp Lejeune, has deployed to the Caribbean to replace the 22nd MEU as the immediate crisis response force for Latin America. The deployment is part of Operation Southern Spear, the Pentagon's mission to combat drug trafficking in the region. Unlike typical MEU deployments aboard Navy amphibious ships, the 24th MEU is operating as Littoral Combat Force-24 from the recently reopened Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico. The force is certified for embassy support, aircraft and personnel recovery, and disrupting networks used by designated terrorist organizations and narco-terrorists. The arrival coincides with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group concluding a 10-month deployment, which included participation in Operation Absolute Resolve, the January 3 attack on Venezuela that captured President Nicolás Maduro. The USS Fort Lauderdale remains in the area to support the Marines.
Task & Purpose22nd MEU and Iwo Jima ARG Return Home After 10-Month Deployment
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), embarked with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), is returning home after a nearly 10-month deployment from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The deployment included participation in Operation Southern Spear, the Pentagon's campaign against narcoterrorist operations in the Caribbean. The Iwo Jima ARG, comprising the USS Iwo Jima, USS Fort Lauderdale, and USS San Antonio, gained international attention for its role in the January 3 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. President Donald Trump shared a photo of Maduro blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima. The MEU also reinforced U.S. embassies in Haiti and Venezuela, conducted maritime interception operations, delivered over 780,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa, and participated in bilateral exercises with regional partners. The USS San Antonio had previously returned to Naval Station Norfolk in April.
Navy Times22nd MEU, Iwo Jima ARG Return Home After 10-Month Deployment
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), embarked with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), is returning home after a nearly 10-month deployment from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The deployment included participation in Operation Southern Spear, the Pentagon's campaign against narcoterrorist operations in the Caribbean. The ARG, comprising the USS Iwo Jima, USS Fort Lauderdale, and USS San Antonio, gained international attention for its role in the January 3 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with President Donald Trump sharing a photo of Maduro blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima. The 22nd MEU executed a wide range of missions including reinforcing U.S. embassies in Haiti and Venezuela, conducting maritime interception operations, delivering over 780,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa, and participating in bilateral exercises with regional partners. The USS San Antonio had previously returned to Naval Station Norfolk in April.
Navy Times22nd MEU and Iwo Jima ARG Return Home After 10-Month Deployment
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), embarked with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), is returning home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, after a nearly 10-month deployment that began in August 2025. The deployment included participation in Operation Southern Spear, the Pentagon's campaign against narcoterrorist operations in the Caribbean. The Iwo Jima ARG made international headlines on January 3, 2026, when it took part in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with President Donald Trump sharing a photo of Maduro blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima. The 22nd MEU also reinforced U.S. embassies in Haiti and Venezuela, conducted maritime interception operations against illicit trafficking, delivered over 780,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa, and participated in multiple bilateral exercises with regional partners. The USS San Antonio returned home to Naval Station Norfolk in April.
Marine Corps Times22nd MEU and Iwo Jima ARG Return Home After 10-Month Deployment
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is returning home after a nearly 10-month deployment from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The deployment included participation in Operation Southern Spear, a Pentagon campaign against narcoterrorist operations in the Caribbean. The ARG, comprising the USS Iwo Jima, USS Fort Lauderdale, and USS San Antonio, gained international attention for its role in the January 3 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with President Donald Trump sharing a photo of Maduro blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima. The MEU also reinforced U.S. embassies in Haiti and Venezuela, conducted maritime interception operations, delivered over 780,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa, and participated in bilateral exercises with regional partners. The USS San Antonio had previously returned to Norfolk in April.
Military Times22nd MEU and Iwo Jima ARG Return Home After 10-Month Deployment
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is returning home after a nearly 10-month deployment from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The deployment included participation in Operation Southern Spear, a Pentagon campaign against narcoterrorist operations in the Caribbean. The ARG, comprising the USS Iwo Jima, USS Fort Lauderdale, and USS San Antonio, gained international attention for its role in the January 3 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with President Donald Trump sharing a photo of Maduro blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima. The MEU also reinforced U.S. embassies in Haiti and Venezuela, conducted maritime interception operations, delivered over 780,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa, and participated in bilateral exercises with regional partners. The USS San Antonio had previously returned to Norfolk in April.
Military Times22nd MEU and Iwo Jima ARG Return Home After 10-Month Deployment
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), embarked with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), is returning home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, after a nearly 10-month deployment that began in August 2025. The deployment included participation in Operation Southern Spear, the Pentagon's campaign against narcoterrorist operations in the Caribbean. The ARG, comprising the USS Iwo Jima, USS Fort Lauderdale, and USS San Antonio, gained international attention for its role in the January 3, 2026 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with President Donald Trump sharing a photo of Maduro blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima. During the deployment, the MEU reinforced U.S. embassies in Haiti and Venezuela, conducted maritime interception operations, delivered over 780,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa, and participated in bilateral exercises with regional partners. The USS San Antonio had previously returned to Naval Station Norfolk in April.
Marine Corps Times22nd MEU and Iwo Jima ARG Return Home After 10-Month Deployment
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), embarked with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), is returning home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, after a nearly 10-month deployment that began in August 2025. The deployment included participation in Operation Southern Spear, the Pentagon's campaign against narcoterrorist operations in the Caribbean. The ARG, consisting of the USS Iwo Jima, USS Fort Lauderdale, and USS San Antonio, gained international attention for its role in the January 3, 2026 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with President Donald Trump sharing a photo of Maduro blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima. During the deployment, the MEU reinforced U.S. embassies in Haiti and Venezuela, conducted maritime interception operations, delivered over 780,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa, and participated in multiple bilateral exercises. The USS San Antonio had previously returned to Naval Station Norfolk in April.
Marine Corps Times22nd MEU and Iwo Jima ARG Return Home After 10-Month Deployment
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), embarked with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), is returning home after a nearly 10-month deployment from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, beginning in August 2025. The deployment included participation in Operation Southern Spear, the Pentagon's campaign against narcoterrorist operations in the Caribbean. The ARG, comprising the USS Iwo Jima, USS Fort Lauderdale, and USS San Antonio, gained international attention for its role in the January 3, 2026 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with President Donald Trump sharing a photo of Maduro blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima. The MEU also reinforced U.S. embassies in Haiti and Venezuela, conducted maritime interception operations, delivered over 780,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa, and participated in bilateral exercises with regional partners. The USS San Antonio had previously returned to Naval Station Norfolk in April.
Navy Times22nd MEU, Iwo Jima ARG Return Home After 10-Month Deployment Including Maduro Capture
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), embarked with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), is returning home after a nearly 10-month deployment that began in August 2025 from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The deployment included participation in Operation Southern Spear, the Pentagon's campaign against narcoterrorist operations in the Caribbean. The ARG, comprising the USS Iwo Jima, USS Fort Lauderdale, and USS San Antonio, gained international attention for its role in the January 3, 2026 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with President Donald Trump posting a photo of Maduro blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima. The MEU also reinforced U.S. embassies in Haiti and Venezuela, conducted maritime interception operations, delivered over 780,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa, and participated in bilateral exercises with regional partners. The USS San Antonio had previously returned to Norfolk in April 2026.
Military Times