The US military began conducting operations with Ecuador targeting �designated terrorist organizations� in the Latin American country, the Pentagon announced Tuesday, marking a new front in the Trump administration�s efforts to curtail drug trafficking.

US Southern Command said in a statement that the actions represent �a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism� and emphasized that both countries are taking �decisive action� against groups that it claims have sown violence and corruption across the hemisphere.

(more at the link)

US military launches operation in Ecuador to combat drug trafficking
US Southern Command said joint mission with Ecuadorian forces involves ‘decisive action’ against narco-terrorists

Reuters
Tue 3 Mar 2026 23.06 EST


US and Ecuadorean forces launched joint operations to combat drug trafficking, the US Southern Command said on Tuesday, but neither side gave more details.

Southern Command, which encompasses 31 countries through South and Central America and the Caribbean, said in a statement on X that the “decisive action” was aimed at combating illicit drug trafficking.

The Ecuador defense ministry said details of the offensive operations were classified.

The announcement of the military action was made after Ecuador’s president, Daniel Noboa, said on Monday that his government would conduct joint operations with the US and other allies in March, framing the effort as “a new phase against narco-terrorism and illegal mining”.

-snip-