MIAMI, Dec 12 - The admiral in charge of U.S. military forces in Latin America will retire two years early on Friday, amid rising tensions with Venezuela that include Wednesday's seizure of an oil tanker and more than 20 deadly strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats.

Three U.S. officials and two people familiar with the matter told Reuters that Admiral Alvin Holsey was pushed ‍out by ​Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Two officials said Hegseth had grown frustrated with Southern Command as he sought to flex ‍U.S. military operations and planning in the region.

One official confirmed that discussion of whether Hegseth would dismiss Holsey surfaced roughly two weeks before the surprise announcement of his departure.

Holsey has not publicly explained his ​early retirement. Some officials ​have privately speculated he opposed recent U.S. strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean. However, in a closed-door meeting with senior lawmakers on Tuesday, Holsey insisted his decision had nothing to do with the operations in his command, according to comments by Republican lawmaker Mike Rogers published in Politico.

Holsey will formally hand over command to his ‍deputy, Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan Pettus, during a ceremony Friday morning. Pettus will serve as acting head of U.S. Southern Command.

One source familiar with the matter said President Donald ​Trump is expected to nominate Lieutenant General Frank Donovan, vice commander of U.S. ⁠Special Operations Command, as Holsey’s permanent successor. The source cautioned that the nomination has not yet been formalized and could change.

Holsey's premature retirement is rare but not unprecedented. In 2008, Central Command commander Admiral William Fallon also retired a year into his term overseeing U.S. forces in the Middle East after making comments about Iran and other issues that irked the Bush administration.

Holsey is the latest in a series of senior ​officers to leave their positions since Hegseth took over the Pentagon. Some departures have been abrupt, including those of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs ...