U.S. Attacked Boat With Aircraft That Looked Like a Civilian Plane

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 7 min read 100% complete by Charlie Savage, Eric Schmitt, John Ismay, Julian E. Barnes, Riley Mellen and Christiaan TriebertJanuary 13, 2026 at 12:47 AM

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long article 7 min

In September 2025, the U.S. military conducted an attack on a boat suspected of drug smuggling, killing 11 people. The Pentagon utilized a concealed aircraft disguised as a civilian plane, with munitions hidden inside the fuselage. This attack raises legal concerns because the Trump administration claims the U.S. is in an armed conflict with drug cartels, justifying lethal force. However, legal specialists argue that using a disguised military aircraft violates the laws of armed conflict, specifically the prohibition against "perfidy," which is feigning civilian status to deceive the enemy. A former Air Force judge advocate general stated that if the aircraft's disguise tricked the boat's occupants into failing to recognize the threat, it constitutes a war crime. The aircraft flew low enough for the people on the boat to see it before the attack.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States Air Force 40% Venezuela 50% Pete Hegseth 60% Steven J. Lepper 60% The Pentagon 70% Donald Trump ×280% United States ×290%

Keywords

perfidy 100% laws of war 90% civilian plane 90% armed conflict 80% military attack 70% war crime 70% trump administration 60% drug runners 60% combatant activity 50%