US and Ecuador Launch Joint Military Operations Against Drug Trafficking Groups

On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched joint operations targeting designated terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking in Ecuador. The U.S. Southern Command described the coordinated effort as a commitment to combat narco-terrorism in Latin America and the Caribbean. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa framed this as a new phase against narco-terrorism and illegal mining amid rising violence. Details on the operation's scope and locations remain classified, with officials emphasizing intelligence sharing and operational coordination. Claims of U.S. air strikes were denied by both governments.