Reference News Network, January 13 report: According to a report by AFP on January 13, citing the New York Times, the Pentagon disguised a military aircraft as a civilian one in the previous year and carried out its first attack on a ship suspected of smuggling drugs, resulting in 11 deaths.
The newspaper reported that this action violated international law on armed conflicts. International law prohibits combatants from "pretending to be civilians to deceive the enemy... This is a war crime known as 'breach of trust'."
President Trump of the United States announced the U.S. attack on September 2, 2025, through a social media post, claiming that the target was members of the criminal gang "Aragua Train" organization, which "operates under Nicolas Maduro's control, engaging in large-scale murders, drug trafficking, sex trade, and violent and terrorist activities."
The New York Times reported that at that time, the plane was painted to look like a civilian aircraft, with the ammunition hidden inside the fuselage, rather than obviously carried under the wings.
The White House confirmed that a U.S. Navy admiral, acting under the authorization of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, ordered a "double strike" military operation, attacking the ship twice.
The New York Times reported that "the two survivors of the initial attack later seemed to wave at the disguised plane," while tightly holding onto the wreckage of the ship, and were later killed by the military in the subsequent attack.
Since the first attack, other identifiable military aircraft, including the MQ-9 "Reaper" drone, have also been used to attack ships. (Translated by Qiu Fang)
On December 27, 2025, an MQ-9 "Reaper" drone of the U.S. military was parked on the tarmac of the Aguadilla Airport in Puerto Rico. (AFP)
Original article: toutiao.com/article/7594809812853916175/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.