President Trump has informed Congress that the US is involved in a “non-international armed conflict” with the drug cartels, who they’ve labeled as ‘unlawful combatants’.

This was an official, confidential notification – so of course it got leaked.

Here’s more via the 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. At least two of those operations were carried out on vessels that originated from Venezuela.

Pentagon officials could not provide a list of the designated terrorist organizations at the center of the conflict, a matter that was a major source of frustration for some of the lawmakers who were briefed, according to the person.

Democrats have been pressing Trump to go to Congress and seek war powers authority for such operations.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

I have no problem with President Trump protecting the homeland and the American people from international drug cartels. Trump is actually waging a war on drugs and all I would say is to keep up the good work!