Ecuador launches major offensive against drug cartels, with U.S. backing

Ecuador this week launched a major offensive against the drug cartels operating in the country and against Colombian groups, in a bid to wipe out the trafficking groups in the manner of El Salvador.

The Ecuadorian Interior Ministry confirmed the deployment of roughly 35,000 military personnel for the operation and imposed curfews in a number of cities.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has complained that Ecuador is reportedly bombing drug cartel operations within its territory, a claim that Ecuador has denied.

"From the very first day, we have fought narcoterrorism in all its forms: those who operate on the streets and those who, from politics or even from the judicial function, lend themselves to protecting criminals," Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Azin said.

"Today, together with international cooperation, we continue in that fight, bombing the places that served as hideouts for these groups, largely Colombian ones that their own government allowed to infiltrate our country due to neglect of its border," he added. "President Petro, your statements are false; we are acting in our territory, not yours."

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.