WATCH: U.S. Military Strikes ‘Designated Terrorist’ Target In Ecuador

The United States struck a “terrorist” target in Ecuador on Tuesday, flexing its military might while simultaneously carrying out full-scale war against Iran.

On Tuesday, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced that U.S. and Ecuadorian military forces launched joint operations against “Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador,” saying the narco-terrorist group had “long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere.”

This announcement marks a significant shift from training missions to active engagement. SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan praised the “unwavering commitment” and “courage” of the Ecuadorian armed forces, characterizing the collaboration as a decisive strike against the “scourge of narco-terrorism” that has destabilized the hemisphere through violence and systemic corruption.

On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador. The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism.

Together,… pic.twitter.com/MrkKZcrDbs

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) March 4, 2026

The joint operation is the culmination of a strategic move by Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. Since taking office in 2023 and securing a full four-year term in April 2025, the Miami-born, pro-Trump conservative has consistently campaigned for international intervention. Noboa argued that what began as local gangs had evolved into international narco-terrorist groups who were responsible for roughly 70% of the world’s cocaine transit.

To facilitate this military cooperation, the U.S. government took several formal steps throughout 2025: In September 2025, the United States officially designated major Ecuadorian gangs Los Choneros and Los Lobos as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). These joined the February 2025 FTO designations of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua and the Mexican Sinaloa and CJNG cartels, all of which maintain significant operations within Ecuador.

In July 2025, the leader of Los Choneros, José Adolfo Macías Villamar (alias “Fito”), was extradited to the United States.

There has been a staggering rise in violence in Ecuador. Despite Noboa’s “no-holds-barred” strategies—including declaring an “internal armed conflict” in 2024—Ecuador has struggled with the highest murder rate in Latin America. In 2024 alone, the country recorded nearly 7,000 homicides, forcing approximately 95,000 citizens to flee the country.

While previous leftist administrations, such as that of Rafael Correa, expelled the U.S. military in 2014, Noboa has actively courted a U.S. presence, even expressing interest in hosting a permanent U.S. military base.

For the United States, a stable, pro-American Ecuador is viewed as a critical bulwark against the influence of ideological groups opposed to the United States.