US, Ecuador launch joint anti-drug strikes
US, Ecuador launch joint anti-drug strikes
Operation Targets FARC Dissident Camp
The United States and Ecuador announced that their military teams executed strikes on a drug trafficking outpost near the Colombian border. The site, linked to a faction of the FARC guerrilla group, was identified as a training hub for the Colombian crime organization Comandos de la Frontera (CDF), according to Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa.
Support From US Southern Command
US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) confirmed the operation as part of a broader campaign against drug trafficking. General Francis Donovan, SOUTHCOM’s commander, directed the joint force under orders from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The mission was described as “lethal kinetic actions targeting designated terrorist groups” within Ecuador.
Coordinated Military Assets
The strike utilized a mix of helicopters, aircraft, river boats, and drones to identify and neutralize the training facility in the northeastern Sucumbios province. This area borders Colombia, making it a strategic point for cross-border drug activities.
President Noboa’s Statement
Noboa, a prominent ally of former US President Donald Trump, shared a video on Instagram showing the compound’s destruction. “We destroyed the hideout of Mono Tole, the CDF leader, and a drug traffickers’ training area,” he declared, emphasizing the success of the operation.
Regional Security Focus
The president’s administration has prioritized a military crackdown on organized crime. In addition to the strikes, Noboa imposed tariffs on Colombia, citing its insufficient efforts against drug trafficking. Recent discussions in Quito with Donovan and Mark Schafer, head of US Special Operations in Central and South America, highlighted plans for intelligence sharing and coordination at key transit points.
Upcoming Summit
Noboa is set to attend the Trump administration’s “Shield of the Americas” summit in Miami. The event will convene right-leaning leaders to address regional security, drug trafficking, and migration challenges.
“We are advancing alongside our partners in the fight against narcoterrorism,” the statement shared on X noted.
Details on casualties or captives remain unclear following the strike. The operation underscores growing collaboration between the US and Ecuador in combating transnational criminal networks.
