The U.S. military and Ecuadorian forces carried out a joint operation on Friday against a narco-terrorist network in northeastern Ecuador, the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) reported. The action, referred to by Ecuador as Operation “Total Extermination”, was aimed at a camp of the Border Commandos (CDF) group, linked to Colombian FARC dissidents, and was considered a kinetic attack against organizations
designated as terrorists.General Francis L. Donovan, commander of SOUTHCOM, noted that the operation was carried out “at the command of the Secretary of War” and sought to support Ecuadorian forces in the fight against narco-terrorism, dismantling criminal networks that affect regional security.
“I congratulate our joint forces and the Ecuadorian armed forces for the success of this operation. This collaborative and decisive action is a strategic achievement for all nations committed to defeating narco-terrorism in the hemisphere
,” said Donovan.The Pentagon, through its spokesman Sean Parnell, indicated that Ecuador requested action to advance the shared objective of dismantling narco-terrorist networks. The operation included helicopters, aircraft, river boats and drones to locate and neutralize the CDF camp, which had a capacity for about 50 people and was located near the Colombian border. So far, it has not been confirmed if there were victims or detainees.
