Marine Col. Paul Meagher, the senior military lawyer at U.S. Southern Command, has raised significant legal concerns about the Trump administration's maritime strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela. Since September 2, the administration has conducted 21 strikes resulting in 82 deaths.

The administration justifies these operations by claiming the U.S. is in an armed conflict with drug cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations. However, military lawyers argue that Congress has not declared war or authorized military force against drug traffickers, and that drug trafficking does not constitute an armed attack under international law.

Legal experts warn that the administration's legal justification is insufficient and could expose service members to legal liability. Additionally, some strikes have reportedly killed individuals who may be noncombatants or unrelated to drug trafficking.

While the Pentagon denies that lawyers have raised concerns, the controversy has attracted criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers demanding greater transparency regarding the legal basis and intelligence supporting these operations.