Admiral Alvin Holsey, commander of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), offered to resign during a tense meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman after raising questions about the legality of Caribbean boat strikes. Holsey announced his retirement in December 2025, just one year into his expected three-year posting—an unusually early departure for a senior commander. Representative Adam Smith noted: 'Never before in my over 20 years on the committee can I recall seeing a combatant commander leave their post this early and amid such turmoil.' A senior SOUTHCOM lawyer had also disagreed with the administration's assertion that strikes were legal but was overruled. The departures signaled deep internal military concerns about potential war crimes.