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Trump declares drug cartels operating in Caribbean unlawful combatants
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KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News
WASHINGTON (AP) — 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 Thursday by The Associated Press, after recent U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean.
A person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly said the Congress was notified about the designation by Pentagon officials on Wednesday.
The move comes after the U.S. military last month carried out three deadly strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean.
Democrats have been pressing Trump to go to Congress and seek war powers authority for such operations.
As the administration takes aim at vessels in the Caribbean, senators and lawmakers of both major political parties have raised stark objections.