Overview

• The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel produced a classified opinion that, sources say, permits deadly force against a broad range of cartels beyond those publicly labeled as terrorist organizations.
• A Defense Department submission to Congress argued the U.S. is in an armed conflict with cartels and called smugglers unlawful combatants, and sources said it leaned heavily on the OLC analysis.
• U.S. forces have conducted at least four strikes on boats in the southern Caribbean, with the most recent attack last week killing four people, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
• Pentagon and military lawyers have raised legal objections to the campaign, and multiple current and former JAGs told CNN the strikes do not appear lawful.
• Congress has repeatedly requested the classified opinion without success, Attorney General Pam Bondi is set to face questions on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, and sources say CIA authorities for lethal targeting in the region have been expanded.