A U.S. military aircraft painted to resemble a civilian plane was involved in an operation targeting a drug-smuggling boat off the coast of Venezuela. The plane, part of a covert U.S. surveillance fleet, was equipped with weapons inside the fuselage, deviating from standard military protocol. The aircraft’s deceptive appearance and armament placement have raised concerns about adherence to military guidelines.
Details about the disguised plane were disclosed following a report by the New York Times and were corroborated by two anonymous sources familiar with the matter. Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson acknowledged the use of various aircraft based on mission requirements but did not provide further details.
The incident is part of the Trump administration’s aggressive stance towards Venezuela, which included multiple military actions targeting alleged drug smugglers. The recent capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his extradition to the U.S. on drug trafficking charges marked a significant escalation in tensions.
Amid growing unease over the military actions, the U.S. Senate is set to vote on a war powers resolution that seeks to limit unauthorized military intervention in Venezuela. President Donald Trump has been actively lobbying Republican senators to oppose the resolution, emphasizing his administration’s stance that the operations were justified due to the perceived armed conflict with drug cartels in the region.
However, military guidelines explicitly prohibit the use of civilian disguises in combat situations, a practice known as “perfidy.” The U.S. Defense Department manual and Air Force regulations expressly forbid feigning civilian status while engaging in armed conflict, citing the risk it poses to both enemy combatants and civilians.
The Pentagon maintains that all aircraft procurement undergoes rigorous scrutiny to ensure compliance with domestic and international laws. The aircraft disguised as a civilian plane was involved in a September strike, marking the beginning of a series of deadly military operations on suspected drug boats.
Congress has demanded accountability from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the military actions, especially the controversial follow-up strike that targeted survivors of the initial attack. Legal experts have criticized the targeting of shipwrecked individuals as potentially violating laws of war.
Lawmakers were briefed on the legal justification for Maduro’s ouster in a classified session, with some expressing skepticism about the legality and long-term implications of the military intervention in Venezuela. Calls for transparency and public disclosure of the legal rationale behind the operation have been voiced by both Republican and Democratic senators.