1. An operation sponsored or conducted by government departments or agencies in such a way as to insure secrecy or concealment (JCS 1997). 2. An operation sponsored or conducted in such a way as to insure the secrecy or concealment of the person or organization doing the sponsoring/conducting. See also covert operation; overt operation.
Intelligence, counterintelligence, and other similar activities sponsored or conducted by governmental departments or agencies using secretor illicit means against another nation.