Foreign Affairs

US Launches ‘Lethal’ Anti-Narcoterrorist Operation In Ecuador

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron S. Patterson

The United States military is supporting an anti-narcoterrorist operation in Ecuador, according to a Friday night release.

Since September 2, U.S. military forces have conducted multiple strikes against drug-running vessels, including sinking a boat with 11 members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, which was designated a foreign terrorist organization by Trump on Jan. 20, 2025. The statement noted that Ecuadorian forces were carrying out combat operations against terrorist groups.

At the order of @SecWar, #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan directed the joint force to support Ecuadorian forces conducing lethal kinetic operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations within Ecuador March 6.

“We are advancing alongside our partners in the fight… https://t.co/egyAlEZYOB

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) March 6, 2026

“At the order of @SecWar, #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan directed the joint force to support Ecuadorian forces conducing lethal kinetic operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations within Ecuador March 6,” United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) posted on X.

“We are advancing alongside our partners in the fight against narcoterrorism,” Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan said in the post on X. “I congratulate our joint forces and the Ecuadorian armed forces for the successful operation against narcoterrorists in Ecuador. This collaborative and decisive action is a strategic success for all nations in the Western Hemisphere committed to disrupting and defeating narcoterrorism.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated two Ecuadorian gangs with ties to Mexican drug cartels, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as foreign terrorist organizations on Sept. 4, 2025. Trump designated Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations when he took office at the start of his second term on Jan. 20, 2025.

“The United States, in partnership with Ecuador and its President Daniel Noboa, will continue to protect our two nations by keeping illicit drugs off our streets and disrupting the revenue streams funding drug cartels’ terrorism and criminal activity,” the State Department said in the release announcing the designation.

(Featured Image Media Credit: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron S. Patterson)