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Marshall
Trump administration launches US military operation in Ecuador
The United States government has announced it is collaborating with Ecuador to combat “terrorists” in the South American country.On Wednesday, US Southern Command, the military unit overseeing operations in Central and South America, posted that joint efforts had already begun in Ecuador.
“On March 3, Ecuadorian and US military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador,” General Francis Donovan said.
“The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism.”
The statement was accompanied by video footage of military helicopters taking off, as well as black-and-white aerial surveillance imagery of figures boarding helicopters on the ground.
The announcement appears to be part of US President Donald Trump’s broader push against criminal networks and drug cartels in Latin America.
The scope of the Ecuadorian operation is not yet known, but several US news outlets have reported that it is so far limited to supporting Ecuadorian troops through logistics and intelligence, citing government sources.
At a Wednesday news briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the joint operation.
