Plane used in boat strike off Venezuela was painted to look like a civilian aircraft, AP sources say

"The new details come after the Trump administration's pressure campaign on Venezuela which began with it massing military resources in Latin America and attacking a series of alleged drug-smuggling boats, killing at least 115 people culminated this month in a stunning raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He and his wife were spirited to the United States to face federal drug trafficking charges."

"Details of the plane's appearance, first reported Monday by The New York Times, were confirmed by two people familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said in a statement that the U.S. military utilizes a wide array of standard and nonstandard aircraft depending on mission requirements."

The U.S. military used a plane painted to resemble a civilian aircraft to strike a boat accused of smuggling drugs off Venezuela last fall. The aircraft belonged to a secret U.S. surveillance fleet and carried munitions inside the fuselage instead of underwing pylons. Those features raise questions about compliance with the Pentagon's laws-of-war manual and military protocol. Two unnamed individuals confirmed details. The Pentagon said it uses various standard and nonstandard aircraft depending on missions. The actions occurred amid a U.S. pressure campaign on Venezuela, including attacks on alleged smuggling boats, a raid capturing President Nicolas Maduro, and a Senate war powers resolution.

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