U.S. Southern Command leaders arrive in Venezuela to coordinate earthquake relief efforts

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Jarrard has arrived in Caracas to coordinate U.S. military support for earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela.

As the senior U.S. Southern Command official on the ground, Jarrard is working with partners to plan, coordinate, and direct logistics and operations to speed response personnel, equipment, and humanitarian assistance into affected areas.

Southern Command is supporting Department of State–led U.S. government relief operations following the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026. The interim Government of Venezuela formally requested U.S. assistance after the disaster.

Assigned U.S. military forces will use both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft to provide specialized mobility and to assist U.S. government personnel, search-and-rescue teams, and partners with damage assessments and the delivery of life-saving aid.