Drug Camp That Hegseth Said U.S. Bombed in Ecuador Was Actually Dairy Farm: Report
Sean Parnell/X
Minister Donald Trump’s The administration claimed to have bombed a “narco-terrorist supply complex” that included a cattle and dairy farm, according to a new report.
The administration’s bombing campaign against ships allegedly carrying drugs off the coast of Latin America was expanded in early March, when the United States began conducting joint military operations with Ecuadorian forces.
Little detail was given about the nature of the operations, other than a vague announcement from United States Southern Command that the first of these campaigns took place on March 3 and a video showing approximately fifteen soldiers boarding helicopters.
“Together, we are taking decisive action to confront the narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence and corruption on citizens across the hemisphere.” expression To read.
Three days later, the assistant secretary of defense for public affairs Sean Parnell sent Video of another operation showing a bombing and the destroyed remains of a structure. In his post, Parnell claimed that the United States “carried out targeted action” “at the request of Ecuador.”
Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth republished In the video about X, it says that the USA “also bombed Narcotic Terrorists on the ground.”
But a new report from New York Times He claims that this area is actually a cattle and dairy farm. Times Interviewing the owner and employees of the farm, as well as residents of the village where the bombing occurred, he said Ecuadorian soldiers entered by helicopter, covered the structures with gasoline, burned them and beat four workers with the butts of their guns. A worker fainted multiple times after being submerged in a barrel of water.
Workers giving speeches Times They also claimed that they were tasered and given electric shocks by soldiers after being taken to a second location for interrogation and held overnight.
Village residents said the fire occurred on March 3, but three days later helicopters returned to the scene and dropped explosives on the destroyed farm. They claimed this happened while Ecuadorian soldiers recorded the footage released by Parnell that day. Times that the farm is not linked to illegal activities.
Although he is the former intelligence director of the Ecuadorian Army, Mario Pazmiño, A representative of the group claimed that senior officials in the country’s military told him the property was being used by the leader of the smuggling group the Commandos. Times The Commandos did not use the farm, he said in a telephone interview.
Ecuadorian army in question An Ecuadorian government news release about the site’s use by drug traffickers claimed the information came in part from U.S. “intelligence and support.”
Ecuadorian officials said soldiers found weapons and other “evidence of illegal activity” on the property. The Ecuadorian military has not provided evidence of its claims, although it has tended to publish photographs of drugs, weapons and contraband seized during operations.
The Ecuadorian military directed questions to President Daniel Noboa, who did not respond to a detailed list of questions.
US officials speaking Times He claimed that the US military deployed helicopters to assist in the operation but that US military personnel were not directly involved in the bombing. Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson He said the attack was carried out “jointly” with Ecuador and could not be discussed in detail “due to operational security.”
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