United States and Ecuador launch joint operations towards narco-terrorists

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U.S. and Ecuadorian forces launched joint operations Tuesday focusing on suspected narco-terrorists in Ecuador, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) mentioned.

SOUTHCOM mentioned it was taking " decisive action " towards designated terrorist organizations, although it was not instantly clear whether or not there have been any casualties.

"On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. army forces launched operations towards Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador," SOUTHCOM posted on X. "The operations are a robust instance of the dedication of companions in Latin America and the Caribbean to fight the scourge of narco-terrorism."

SOUTHCOM added: "Collectively, we're taking decisive motion to confront narco-terrorists who've lengthy inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on residents all through the hemisphere."

U.S. and Ecuadorian forces launched joint operations focusing on suspected narco-terror teams in Ecuador. (U.S. Southern Command)

SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan praised Ecuador’s army for becoming a member of the U.S. within the operations.

"We commend the women and men of the Ecuadorian armed forces for his or her unwavering dedication to this combat, demonstrating braveness and resolve by way of continued actions towards narco-terrorists of their nation," he mentioned.

The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador mentioned Tuesday the USA "efficiently concluded a joint operation" with Europol and Ecuadorian authorities dismantling the Hernán Ruilova Barzola transnational drug trafficking group, which it mentioned is linked to the Los Lobos cartel.

The announcement follows a sequence of U.S. strikes focusing on suspected drug-trafficking operations within the Caribbean and Japanese Pacific.

US KILLS 11 IN 3 STRIKES ON ALLEGED DRUG-RUNNING BOATS

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/343/192/us-southern-command-backs-ecuador-in-operations-against-narco-terrorists.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/686/384/us-southern-command-backs-ecuador-in-operations-against-narco-terrorists.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/672/378/us-southern-command-backs-ecuador-in-operations-against-narco-terrorists.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1344/756/us-southern-command-backs-ecuador-in-operations-against-narco-terrorists.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/931/523/us-southern-command-backs-ecuador-in-operations-against-narco-terrorists.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1862/1046/us-southern-command-backs-ecuador-in-operations-against-narco-terrorists.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/720/405/us-southern-command-backs-ecuador-in-operations-against-narco-terrorists.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1440/810/us-southern-command-backs-ecuador-in-operations-against-narco-terrorists.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> U.S. and Ecuadorian forces launched joint operations Tuesday focusing on suspected narco-terrorists in Ecuador, based on U.S. Southern Command. (U.S. Southern Command)

Final week, U.S. forces struck a suspected narco-trafficking vessel within the Caribbean tied to designated terrorist organizations, killing three suspected traffickers.

That strike got here after SOUTHCOM mentioned final month it had carried out three strikes within the Japanese Pacific and Caribbean, killing 11.

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/343/192/us-ecuador-launch-coordinated-crackdown-on-narco-terror-networks.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/686/384/us-ecuador-launch-coordinated-crackdown-on-narco-terror-networks.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/672/378/us-ecuador-launch-coordinated-crackdown-on-narco-terror-networks.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1344/756/us-ecuador-launch-coordinated-crackdown-on-narco-terror-networks.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/931/523/us-ecuador-launch-coordinated-crackdown-on-narco-terror-networks.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1862/1046/us-ecuador-launch-coordinated-crackdown-on-narco-terror-networks.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/720/405/us-ecuador-launch-coordinated-crackdown-on-narco-terror-networks.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1440/810/us-ecuador-launch-coordinated-crackdown-on-narco-terror-networks.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> U.S. Southern Command introduced "decisive motion" Tuesday towards designated terrorist organizations in Ecuador as a part of ongoing counter-narcotics efforts. (U.S. Southern Command)

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Total, the U.S. has performed at the least 43 strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels , killing 150 individuals within the Caribbean and Japanese Pacific.