The U.S. and Ecuador have initiated joint military operations to combat drug trafficking and organized crime in Ecuador, according to statements from the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and Ecuador's defense ministry.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. and Ecuador have launched joint military operations targeting drug trafficking and organized crime in Ecuador. The operation involves lethal kinetic action against designated terrorist organizations involved in narco-terrorism.
- Joint U.S.-Ecuadorian forces initiated operations to combat drug trafficking and organized crime.
- Operations include targeted strikes against narco-terrorist networks, with significant seizures of cocaine and related assets.
- U.S. involvement includes logistics and intelligence support, though the exact role of American troops on the ground remains unspecified.
- Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa emphasizes security as a top priority in his government's war on drug cartels.
The operation, which began on Tuesday, targets designated terrorist organizations involved in narco-terrorism. SOUTHCOM emphasized that the actions represent a commitment by partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat illicit drug trafficking and its associated violence.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has framed the effort as a new phase in his government's war on drug cartels, highlighting security as a top priority. The operations include dismantling large-scale drug-trafficking networks linked to groups like Los Lobos, with seizures of significant quantities of cocaine and related assets.
The U.S. involvement includes providing logistics and intelligence support, though the exact role of American troops on the ground remains unspecified. The operation follows a series of U.S. strikes targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
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