Ecuador will launch a major offensive against criminal organizations in three western provinces this weekend with logistical support from the United States, the interior minister said.
The provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas will be under a curfew from March 15-30 to facilitate the movement of troops and equipment.
The interior minister urged citizens to stay in their homes during the curfew and keep the roads clear.
The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador and the U.S. Defense Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The attacks against violent criminal groups are aimed at 'destroying what they have built in various parts of the country,' the interior minister said.
Ecuador has faced a relentless offensive by organized crime groups since early 2021, which maintain close ties with drug trafficking cartels in Colombia and Mexico.
