US Launches Joint Operation Against ‘Terrorist Organizations’ in Ecuador

New Delhi: The US has launched an operation against terrorist organizations in Ecuador. The Pentagon said Tuesday night that the US and Ecuador have launched a joint military action against “terrorist organizations” in the South American country. This appears to be part of a larger series of US military strikes in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific against boats accused by the Trump administration of transporting drugs.

According to a US official, the US and Ecuadorian joint operation exemplifies the partners’ commitment to combating the narco-terrorism threat in Latin America and the Caribbean. US Special Forces soldiers are advising and supporting Ecuadorian commandos in raids on suspected drug shipment facilities and other drug-related sites across the country, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters.

The official said that while the Americans are not believed to be participating in the actual raid, they are assisting Ecuadorian troops in planning their operations and providing intelligence and logistics support. “Together, we are taking the necessary action to confront the narco-terrorists who have long unleashed terror and violence on people across the hemisphere,” he said.

General Francis L. Donovan, the military’s South Commander, said, “We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces for their commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and determination through sustained operations against narco-terrorists in their country.”

A 30-second video released by the military’s South Command shows a helicopter taking off in the early morning or evening, hovering over an area, and then picking up soldiers. The US official said the video showed the first of several raids across the country, some assisted by nearby US advisers, others involving only Ecuadorian forces.

The official said that in this case, which involved mostly Ecuadorian forces, it was unclear what the mission’s objective was or whether it was successful. The United States Southern Command said in a statement that the operations were a strong example of partners’ commitment to combating the narco-terrorism threat in Latin America and the Caribbean, without providing full details of the operations. However, the White House did not immediately comment on the military activity.

Ecuador is the world’s largest exporter of drugs; it does not produce them, but serves as a trafficking route for criminal groups operating in Colombia and Peru. General Donovan praised the country’s role in fighting cartels and described Ecuador as the United States’ strongest ally in preventing and eliminating designated terrorist organizations in the region.