"The United States and Ecuador carried out a joint operation on Tuesday targeting groups that Ecuadorian authorities identify as linked to drug trafficking in several high-risk provinces, including Guayas, Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas and El Oro. US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said the operation was part of bilateral efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking in the South American country. "On 3 March, Ecuadorian and United States military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organisations in Ecuador. These operations are a clear example of the commitment of our partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism," the organisation said. The cooperation is part of security agreements between Washington and Quito aimed at boosting Ecuadorian forces' ability to target transnational criminal networks operating along regional drug trafficking routes. The announcement comes as Ecuador faces a surge in violence linked to organised crime. The government says its security strategy is focused on armed groups and drug gangs that authorities view as a threat to the country's stability. The operation marks a major shift in US military involvement in South America, after months of escalating violence in Ecuador."