Trump says US is in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean

"WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump has declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and says the United States is now in a "non-international armed conflict," according to a Trump administration memo obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, following recent U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean. Congress was notified about the designation by Pentagon officials on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity."

""Although friendly foreign nations have made significant efforts to combat these organizations, suffering significant losses of life, these groups are now transnational and conduct ongoing attacks throughout the Western Hemisphere as organized cartels," according to the memo, which refers to cartel members as "unlawful combatants." "Therefore, the President determined these cartels are non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States.""

President Donald Trump designated drug cartels as unlawful combatants and stated the United States is in a non-international armed conflict. The designation came via a Trump administration memo that followed recent U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, including vessels that originated from Venezuela. Pentagon officials notified Congress of the designation. The memo described cartels as transnational, conducting ongoing attacks throughout the Western Hemisphere, and stated the President designated them as non-state armed groups and terrorist organizations, characterizing their actions as an armed attack against the United States. Pentagon officials could not provide a list of designated groups, prompting frustration from some lawmakers and calls for war powers authority.

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