"Military personnel began arriving in Guayaquil on Thursday as part of a security reinforcement operation announced by Ecuador's Ministry of Defence. The plan includes the deployment of nearly 10,000 troops across the provinces of Guayas, Los Rios and Manabi, which remain under a state of emergency. The soldiers will be deployed across several cantons under the massive military operation dubbed 'Total Offensive' and described by authorities as a measure against the surge in cartel-related violence. Footage filmed on Friday shows soldiers arriving at Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil to begin security operations in the provinces. Mauro Bedoya, commander of the Ecuadorian Air Force's Air and Space Operations Command (FAE), said that one of the objectives is that "the population sees its Armed Forces as supporting security in the streets." "Due to the surge in violence, mainly at the end of last year and at the beginning of this year, that is why the decision has been made to reinforce, and I insist, reinforce, because since 2024 we have been deployed nationwide providing, or rather, carrying out security operations," he added. Bedoya explained that the arriving personnel are mainly for the provinces of Los Rios and Guayas, and added that flights to the city of Manta will take place on Friday and Saturday to reinforce the deployment in Manabi. The Ministry of Defence reported that the offensive is carried out under 'reserved objectives' and targets priority sectors and areas identified through military intelligence analysis. The operation is directly targeting those who pose a threat to public security."