Trump declares drug cartels in Caribbean unlawful combatants
Trump declares drug cartels in Caribbean unlawful combatants
Trump says US is in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean
President Donald Trump has declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and says the United States is now in an “armed conflict."
President Donald Trump has declared drug cartels operating in the Caribbean are 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.
A U.S. official 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. At least two of those operations were carried out on vessels that originated from Venezuela.