US, Ecuador launch joint operations targeting narco-terror groups: SOUTHCOM
U.S. and Ecuadorian forces launched joint operations Tuesday targeting suspected narco-terrorists in Ecuador, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said.
SOUTHCOM said it was taking "decisive action" against designated terrorist organizations, though it was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties.
"On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador," SOUTHCOM posted on X. "The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism."
SOUTHCOM added: "Together, we are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere."
US MILITARY KILLS 3 IN LATEST STRIKE ON A SUSPECTED DRUG VESSEL IN THE PACIFIC
SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan praised Ecuador’s military for joining the U.S. in the operations.
"We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country," he said.
The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador said Tuesday the United States "successfully concluded a joint operation" with Europol and Ecuadorian authorities dismantling the Hernán Ruilova Barzola transnational drug trafficking organization, which it said is linked to the Los Lobos cartel.
The announcement follows a series of U.S. strikes targeting suspected drug-trafficking operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
US KILLS 11 IN 3 STRIKES ON ALLEGED DRUG-RUNNING BOATS
Last week, U.S. forces struck a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean tied to designated terrorist organizations, killing three suspected traffickers.
That strike came after SOUTHCOM said last month it had carried out three strikes in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, killing 11.
Overall, the U.S. has conducted at least 43 strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels, killing 150 people in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.