Overview
- New reporting says the Sept. 2 aircraft was painted to resemble a civilian plane and hid its munitions inside the fuselage.
- Law-of-war experts say feigning civilian status could constitute the war crime of perfidy under armed-conflict standards.
- Officials briefed on the video say two survivors clinging to wreckage were then killed in a follow-up strike, raising concerns about targeting shipwrecked persons.
- The Pentagon says its aircraft and operations undergo legal review and maintains the boat-strike campaign complies with domestic and international law.
- After the initial attack, the military shifted to recognizably military platforms, including MQ-9 Reapers, as lawmakers reviewed longer videos and sought records in a campaign totaling roughly 35 strikes and over 100 deaths.