Outrage Grows! U.S. Used Civilian-Looking Aircraft in First Attack on Narco Boats, NYT Says

• The U.S. carried out its first attack against an alleged narco boat using a civilian-looking aircraft.
• The operation left 11 people dead and raised legal and ethical questions internationally.
• Following the controversy, the Pentagon modified its aerial strategy in the region.

A United States military operation in international waters of the Caribbean has generated outrage and strong criticism after it was revealed that a secret aircraft with a civilian appearance was used.

The attack, which occurred in September near Venezuela, left at least 11 people dead and is part of a series of actions against vessels linked to drug trafficking, according to EFE.

The information, reported by The New York Times, has reopened the debate over the limits of military force.

The First Attack on Narco Boats Under the “Southern Spear” Mission

According to officials cited by The New York Times, the Pentagon deployed an aircraft that displayed no visible weapons or military insignia during the first strike against a vessel that, according to the administration of President Donald Trump, was transporting drugs.

The munitions were concealed inside the fuselage, allowing the aircraft to approach without raising suspicion. Surveillance images show the aircraft flying at low altitude and the vessel attempting to return toward Venezuela after detecting it, before the first strike occurred.

On Dec. 31, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and… pic.twitter.com/4AE5u4cEff

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) January 1, 2026

This operation was part of more than 35 missions carried out by U.S. armed forces in international waters under the mission known as “Southern Spear,” coordinated by U.S. Southern Command, under the justification of combating drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

Civilian-Looking Aircraft and the Role of U.S. Southern Command

The use of a civilian-looking aircraft marked a turning point. Officials said they reviewed footage showing that, after the first strike, two survivors remained on the overturned hull remains.

According to the report, the survivors appeared to wave at the aircraft before dying in a second strike that ultimately sank the wreckage. This detail intensified criticism over the legality of the operation and the use of lethal force in international waters.

Since then, the U.S. military has opted to use clearly identifiable military aircraft, including MQ-9 Reaper drones, in subsequent attacks.

On Dec. 30, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy. These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence… pic.twitter.com/NHRNIzcrFS

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 31, 2025

Impact of the Operations on the Region and the Latino Community

These types of operations raise concern among Latino communities with family and economic ties to the Caribbean and South America. The lack of public information transparently demonstrating the victims’ links to drug trafficking fuels fears of possible abuses.

Governments such as Colombia’s have questioned these attacks, arguing that they may violate international law and denouncing that they have left more than a hundred people dead without public evidence proving their connection to organized crime.

For many migrant families, these operations reinforce fears that civilians may be caught up in military actions without clear guarantees or visible judicial processes.

What Analysts Are Saying About the US Covert Aircraft Used in the Narco Boat Attack

Analysts and regional governments have questioned the legality of these strikes, noting that they are carried out without judicial processes or publicly verifiable evidence.

Criticism focuses on the use of lethal force and the lack of transparency regarding the criteria used to identify the targeted vessels.

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What Comes Next

The operations continue, but under increased international scrutiny.

As the United States adjusts its tactics, calls are growing to investigate these attacks and to establish clearer rules governing the use of force in anti-drug missions in international waters, amid the ongoing debate over the US covert aircraft narco boat attack.