When in a difficult situation, the most important thing is to keep the situation clear. The international law of armed conflicts began by forcing the warmakers to make clear the beginning and end of the conflict, who and what was involved, and what they were seeking. This took centuries.
Present ways are different than this -- think the John Houseman character in Three Days of the Condor: "I miss the clarity."
Some difficulties arise when not all of the secrets belong to you, of course. But making the the situation clear out of a decent respect for the opinions of mankind can be accomplished with the necessary discretion. Whether it will be at all effective, or really, if anyone will notice, is a secondary concern. Always ensure that your derring-do is under the right flag, nailed to the mast if necessary.