News - Trump Tells Congress U.S. Is at War With Cartels: What That Means

Escalated campaign on Venezuelan targets The Trump Administration has ramped up its military campaign on Venezuela in recent months. The government has moved thousands of troops, several navy ships and other military craft to the region, which prompted the Venezuelan government to mobilize militia troops in August. Trump has ordered three military strikes on Venezuelan vessels in international waters: the first on Sept. 2 killed 11 people, the second on Sept. 15 killed three, and a third on Sept. 19 killed another three. U.S. military officials have also prepared potential plans to target drug traffickers within Venezuela, including the possibility of drone strikes on the country’s mainland which could begin within weeks, officials told NBC last week. The strikes would target cartels’ leaders, members, and drug labs, the officials said. “We’ll see what happens. Venezuela is sending us their gang members, their drug dealers and drugs. It’s not acceptable,” Trump said on Sept. 14 when asked if the U.S. would consider strikes on mainland Venezuela.