US EditionDOJ drafts legal opinion backing immunity for US troops involved in boat strikes: Report
The DOJ's classified memo argues U.S. troops acting in lethal strikes on drug trafficking vessels are legally immune from prosecution, with at least 76 killed in 19 strikes since September.
- On Wednesday, The Washington Post reported the U.S. Justice Department drafted a classified opinion in July defending lethal strikes and shielding personnel from prosecution.
- The Trump administration has built up significant military forces in Latin America, telling Congress it is engaged in 'armed conflict' with Latin American drug cartels and considers them terrorist groups.
- U.S. military has carried out strikes in the Caribbean and the Pacific in recent weeks, with the latest Pacific strike killing six people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
- High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged Washington on Monday to investigate the strikes, saying there are 'strong indications' they are extrajudicial killings, and Turk said, 'It has to be the absolute last resort in the face of an immediate attack.'
- A Justice Department spokesperson said the strikes were lawful orders and U.S. service members involved do not risk prosecution, with at least 76 people dead.
54 Articles
54 Articles
Antiwar.com
The Next Wars Were Always Here - Antiwar.com Blog
The first U.S. missiles that struck the boats in the Caribbean in early September 2025 were described by Washington as a “counter-narcotics operation,” a sterile phrase meant to dull the violence of incinerating human beings in an instant. Then came the second strike, this time on survivors already struggling to…
THE NEXT WARS WERE ALWAYS HERE: How Post 9/11 Law and the Monroe Doctrine Converged in the Caribbean
By Michelle Ellner The first U.S. missiles that struck the boats in the Caribbean in early September 2025 were described by Washington as a “counter-narcotics operation,” a sterile phrase meant to dull the violence of incinerating human beings in an instant. Then came the second strike, this time on survivors already struggling to stay afloat.…
Report: DOJ determined drug boat strikes are legal under U.S. and international law in classified memo
A view of the Pentagon on December 13, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images) OAN Staff Katherine Mosack3:45 PM – Saturday, November 29, 2025 In a classified memo, the Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) advised the Pentagon that strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats... The post Report: DOJ determined drug boat strikes are legal under U.S. and international law in cla…
White House Blew Past Legal Concerns in Deadly Strikes on Drug Boats
U.S. President Donald Trump and his top White House aides pushed for lethal strikes on Western Hemisphere drug traffickers almost as soon as they took office in January, and in the past 10 months have repeatedly steamrolled or sidestepped government lawyers who questioned whether the provocative policy was legal, according to multiple current and former officials familiar with the debates.
Military personnel seek advice on whether orders are legal
Military service personnel have been seeking outside legal advice about some of the missions the Trump administration has assigned them. The strikes against alleged drug traffickers and deployments to U.S. cities have sparked a debate over their legality. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Frank Rosenblatt, president of the National Institute of Military Justice, which runs The Orders Project.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
