The Trump administration has communicated to Congress a position that characterizes drug trafficking by certain organizations as a form of armed attack, distinguishing it from the customary “war on drugs” classification, which typically signifies aggressive law enforcement. This stance has been presented without specific congressional authorization for the use of military force against these groups. Judicial precedents concerning military commissions, particularly those involving Al Qaeda, have previously highlighted the requirement of explicit congressional approval for the deployment of armed force against entities that have directly attacked the United States.
A notification to Congress detailed a September 15 operation in which U.S. Special Operations Forces engaged a vessel, resulting in the deaths of three individuals identified as “unlawful combatants.” The justification provided was that the vessel was assessed to be affiliated with a designated terrorist organization and engaged in illicit drug trafficking, which could potentially harm Americans. The operation led to the destruction of the vessel, the narcotics, and the fatalities.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/us/politics/trump-drug-cartels-war.html