SOUTHCOM says U.S. and Ecuador launched operations against designated terrorist groups

On March 3, U.S. Southern Command posted on X, "On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador," framing the action as part of a broader counter-narcotics campaign. SOUTHCOM described the moves as "a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism" and said, "Together, we are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere."

The short public notice was accompanied by a 30-second SOUTHCOM video showing a helicopter taking off in early morning or dusk, flying over an area and picking up soldiers. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters the clip depicted the first of what could be a series of raids and that U.S. Special Forces soldiers have been advising and supporting Ecuadorian commandos on operations across the country. The official added that Americans are "not believed to be participating in the actual raids" but are providing planning, intelligence and logistics support.

SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan praised Ecuador's military in comments released in U.S. media, saying, "We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country." The statement emphasized partnership rather than laying out tactical results; multiple outlets reported that casualty figures and mission outcomes for the March 3 actions were not immediately clear.

Separately, the U.S. Embassy in Quito said the United States "successfully concluded a joint operation" with Europol and Ecuadorian authorities that dismantled the Hernán Ruilova Barzola transnational drug trafficking organization, which the embassy said is linked to the Los Lobos cartel. Officials described that action as a concluded, cooperative law enforcement operation and did not tie its arrests or seizures to the March 3 military activity.

The operations in Ecuador come amid intensified U.S. anti-trafficking activity at sea. Regional tallies cited in U.S. reporting put the number of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels at more than 40, with one account saying "at least 43 strikes" had killed 150 people in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, and other tallies noting more than 40 lethal strikes since September. Those maritime strikes were presented by U.S. officials and press accounts as part of the same regional campaign but are distinct from the raids announced in Ecuador.

President Daniel Noboa welcomed what his office described as a "new phase" in Ecuador's fight against cartels and told reporters the U.S. was among "regional allies" taking part. Noboa has warned that Ecuador's ports now handle vast quantities of cocaine, telling the BBC that "around 70% of the world's cocaine now flows through Ecuador's huge ports." He met in Quito with Gen. Donovan and Mark Schafer, the head of U.S. Special Operations for Central and South America and the Caribbean, to discuss information-sharing and coordination at airports and seaports.

The deployment follows recent political and military developments in Ecuador: a referendum four months ago rejected the return of foreign military bases, and Washington announced a temporary deployment of Air Force personnel to the former U.S. base in the port city of Manta three months ago. For now, U.S. statements and footage emphasize support and partnership while operational details, target identities for the March 3 raids and casualty counts remain undisclosed. The campaign marks a deepening U.S. operational footprint in Ecuador's intensifying effort to interdict drug-trafficking networks.