US military launches operation in Ecuador to combat drug trafficking | US news

U.S. Southern Command said Tuesday that U.S. and Ecuadorian forces have launched joint operations to combat drug trafficking, but neither side provided further details.

Southern Command, which covers 31 countries through South and Central America and the Caribbean, said in a statement on X that the “decisive action” was aimed at combating illegal drug trafficking.

Ecuador’s defense ministry said details of the offensive operations were classified.

The announcement of military action came after Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said on Monday that his government would conduct joint operations with the United States and other allies in March, framing the effort as “a new phase against narco terrorism and illegal mining.”

A new U.S. military-led task force specializing in intelligence gathering on drug cartels played a role in last month’s Mexican military raid that killed elusive crime boss Nemesio Oseguera (aka “El Mencho”), the biggest takedown of a cartel kingpin in at least a decade.