American commandos join Ecuadorian troops in mission targeting alleged narco-terrorists

Washington — American commandos in recent days joined Ecuadorian troops in a joint mission aimed at dismantling a suspected criminal hub operated by an alleged narco-terrorist organization along the country’s coast.

The operation, dubbed Lanza Marina, focused on a compound believed to serve as a staging ground for high-speed boats linked to Los Choneros, a powerful Ecuadorian criminal organization, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News under condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The two U.S. officials said the American forces worked in advisory roles, assisting and accompanying their Ecuadorian counterparts as they moved against the site, part of a broader effort to curb trafficking networks that rely on fast-moving maritime routes.

The Defense Department has historically used several authorities such as security cooperation agreements and train-and-equip programs to allow U.S. special operation forces to support foreign forces. For instance, “127 Echo missions,” referring to 10 U.S.C. § 127e, are commonplace. 127e is the legal authority that allows for the U.S. military to support foreign forces to combat terrorism. While these types of missions are overseen by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, the defense secretary has historically been required to approve these missions and to sign congressional notification letters, according to documents obtained by The New York Times.

CBS News exclusively reported last year that President Trump rolled back constraints on American commanders to authorize airstrikes and special operation raids outside conventional battlefields, broadening the range of people who could be targeted. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the reporting by CBS News was accurate.

In early March, the United States and Ecuador launched joint military operations against “designated terrorist organizations” in the South American country amid the U.S. military’s unilateral strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific accused by the Trump administration of smuggling drugs. Strikes against suspected drug smuggling boats began in September 2025 resulting in at least 47 strikes killing about 163 people.

“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,” said Marine Gen. Francis Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command in a statement last month.

In a statement, U.S. Southern Command did not offer details on the recent operation with Ecuador, citing “force protection reasons.” But it pointed to written remarks to Congress last month in which Donovan said Southern Command is “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.”

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