The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has determined that the U.S. is engaged in a "non-international armed conflict” with Latin American drug cartels, according to a notification to the U.S. Congress, offering further legal justification for recent strikes on alleged drug-runners from Venezuela.

The notice, sent by the Pentagon to Congress this week, says the U.S. "has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks” by the groups, which Trump has also designated terrorist organizations.

The New York Times first reported the move earlier Thursday.