president Donald Trump U.S. Southern Command comes under fire online despite announcing joint operation with U.S. Ecuadormilitary force to target designated terrorist groups there.
“On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched operations against designated terrorist groups in Ecuador. These operations are a powerful example of the commitment of our partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism,” Southern Command announced on the 1st.
They shared a video of the operation, adding: “Together, we are taking decisive action against the narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence and corruption on citizens across the Western Hemisphere.”
The post also quoted Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of Southern Command, saying: “We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, who have demonstrated courage and determination through sustained operations against narco-terrorists in their country.”
The video shows a helicopter taking off and appearing to lock onto its target.
Ecuador’s action comes as Trump focuses on South America, including sending troops to Venezuela to seize Nicolás Madurotheir president and his wife. The pair were flown back to the United States to face prosecution, an unprecedented turn of events.
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Currently, tensions are high elsewhere as the United States and its ally Israel are locked in a conflict with Iran in the Middle East.
The recent acts of aggression have not appeased many who have begun to question why the United States is involved in the war, even as Trump promised the opposite while campaigning for a second term.
Trump slams Ecuador’s actions
Trump has been heavily criticized for his military actions in Ecuador. “The US empire just launched its latest clown war in Ecuador. Overnight, locals were labeled as terrorists. Anything to keep us away from Epstein since Iran started to stop distracting us,” page claim.
Another page, purporting to be a group of anti-Trump Republicans, wrote “U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) stated that on March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched an operation against a designated terrorist organization in Ecuador.”
Another one additional “President Trump is no longer backing down. He is waging an all-out war on the cartels.”
Trump took a tough stance on cross-border drugs during his second term. These include strikes against what the government calls “narco-terrorist” vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific as part of Operation Southern Spear. However, reports indicate that some attacks may have affected civilians on board these ships.
