President Donald Trump on Thursday directed the Department of War to act against the drug cartels as though in an "armed conflict" with such organizations.

“The President directed the Department of War to conduct operations against them pursuant to the law of armed conflict,” the administration stated in a memo, The Hill reported. “The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations.” 

Under the Trump administration, the Pentagon has conducted armed strikes against the drug cartels and has published video footage of military strikes on suspected drug boats out of Venezuela.

Trump's White House, moreover, has designated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a cartel leader and raised the bounty for his capture. At present, U.S. warships in the Caribbean are working to interdict maritime drug shipments to the mainland.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.