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The US military conducted a strike on a drug-smuggling boat from Venezuela on September 2, using an aircraft disguised as a civilian plane, which resulted in 11 deaths. This has raised legal concerns regarding potential violations of international law, specifically the principle of perfidy.

Pentagon officials debated the legality of using such an aircraft, which had internal weapons and did not display visible armaments. The Trump administration defended the operation as part of a broader counter-narcotics campaign, while legal experts argue that drug trafficking does not constitute an armed conflict.

Following the strike, the military has shifted to using identifiable military aircraft. The exact type of aircraft used remains unclear.