U.S. forces joined Ecuadorean counterparts to target a facility allegedly controlled by a local cartel, according to a new report.
CBS News detailed that the operation, dubbed Lanza Marine (Maritime Spear), aimed at compounds believed to be used by Los Choneros, designated as a Foreign Terrorist organization last year, as staging grounds for high-speed boats.
Two U.S. officials told the outlet that American forces are working in advisory roles and not executing operations.
Both countries launched joint military operations against "designated terrorist organizations" in the country, whose current administration, led by Daniel Noboa, is seeking to strengthen ties with the U.S.
The U.S. Southern Command did not provide additional details about the operation citing "force protection reasons," but made reference to remarks from its commander, Marine Gen. Francis Donovan, who said U.S. forces are "aggressively accelerating initiatives to provide advanced unit-level training to partner nation law enforcement and military personnel to develop tactical leadership and specialized skills for sustained counternarcotics and counter-FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organization) operations."
The U.S.'s involvement in Ecuador was under scrutiny recently, however, after a report claimed that another facility attacked recently was not operated by cartels, but was rather a dairy farm
The claim was made by The New York Times, which interviewed the farm's owner and some of its workers, as well as local leaders of the village of San Martin, where the strike took place.
Workers on the farm said that Ecuadorean soldiers arrived by helicopter, poured gasoline on some shelters and ignited them after questioning and beating workers. Three of them said they were chocked and given electric shocks.
Residents of San Martin also told the outlet that troops returned three days later and appeared to drop explosive on the farm's remains. It was then when the footage posted by the Southern Command was posted.
Southcom said in a social media post that the operation was a the operation was a "powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism."
"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," added Southcom Commander Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan.
The Ecuadorean military said that the facility was used by a criminal group to hide weapons, and that operatives also used it to sleep and train. It added that it relied on U.S. "intelligence and support" and that it recovered guns and other "evidence of illicit activity." The claims were rejected by the farm's owner.
