‘We Will Blow You Out of the Water’

The Trump administration has formally notified Congress that the United States is engaged in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels following a series of military strikes on smuggling operations in the Caribbean, as reported by the New York Post.

According to a Pentagon notice sent Wednesday to congressional committees, the determination comes after “hostile acts” directed at American citizens and U.S. allies.

The notice, reported by The New York Times and the Associated Press, characterized the groups as “nonstate armed groups” and “unlawful combatants” engaged in attacks against the United States.

President Trump highlighted the operations during a speech Monday at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, where he referenced the destruction of four Venezuelan boats allegedly used for drug smuggling.

“If you try to poison our people, we will blow you out of existence,” Trump said. “That’s the only language they really understand. That’s why you don’t see any more boats on the ocean.”

BREAKING: President Trump declares that the United States is officially in an ARMED CONFLICT with the Venezuelan regime drug cartel which is a designated terror organization.

Trump two days ago “if you try to poison our people, we will blow you out of existence.” pic.twitter.com/WVmvdE2Gtk

— Daniel Di Martino (@DanielDiMartino) October 2, 2025

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The strikes, conducted earlier this month, targeted vessels linked to cocaine and fentanyl trafficking. The first attack on September 2 focused on a Venezuelan prison gang accused of drug smuggling. Officials confirmed that at least 17 people were killed in the initial three strikes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that nearly 100,000 Americans die annually from drug overdoses. In 2024 alone, at least 70,000 fatalities were attributed to cocaine or synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) voiced support for the military action during a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. “We’re blowing boats out of the water in the Caribbean because they’re connected to international narco-terrorist groups,” Graham said.

He also suggested Venezuela could qualify as a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law.

FBI Director Kash Patel, questioned during the hearing on the administration’s legal authority to strike the boats, deferred to the Pentagon. “We will provide the intelligence necessary for anyone who meets the threshold to be a state sponsor of terror,” Patel said.

The State Department has already labeled several organizations, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua prison gang, as foreign terrorist organizations.

The Pentagon notice to lawmakers cited intelligence assessments that one of the targeted vessels was “affiliated with a designated terrorist organization” and was actively trafficking drugs “which could ultimately be used to kill Americans.”

The notice stated that the strike destroyed the vessel, its illicit cargo, and killed approximately three individuals classified as unlawful combatants.

It added: “Based upon the cumulative effects of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, the president determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations.”

While Congress has not formally declared war since World War II, the U.S. has engaged in numerous conflicts abroad without a formal declaration. Lawmakers have not yet taken legislative action in response to the administration’s notice.

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