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The Ecuadorian government has pushed back on claims made by Colombia that its military carried out bombings inside Colombian territory.
Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you haven’t been following the news lately, Ecuador has essentially declared war on organized crime, launching an aggressive nationwide crackdown targeting drug trafficking networks, armed gangs, and what officials are calling “narco-terrorist” groups operating near its northern border. The move mirrors what El Salvador did under President Bukele’s leadership, with the government deploying tens of thousands of police and military personnel, imposing curfews in the most violent provinces, and carrying out aerial bombings and raids on suspected gang hideouts, including camps tied to cross-border groups. Officials say parts of the campaign have involved coordination with the United States, including intelligence support and broader security cooperation, as Ecuador ramps up operations.
What’s going on now: Colombian President Gustavo Petro has doubled down on accusations that Ecuador’s military carried out bombings inside Colombian territory, citing the discovery of dozens of burned bodies near the shared border as what he suggests is evidence of a cross-border strike. Petro has argued that the nature of the attack indicates it was not carried out by armed groups, noting that they “don’t have aircraft,” and stressed that Colombia’s own military did not conduct the operation. He has framed the situation as a potential violation of sovereignty, raising concerns that Ecuador’s ongoing offensive may have spilled beyond its borders.
It should be noted that Petro has not confirmed if the strike occurred on Colombian territory. Despite this, Colombian authorities have implied that the strike may have targeted suspected camps or movements tied to armed groups operating between the two countries. Ecuador, however, has firmly denied those accusations, insisting that all of its military operations have taken place strictly within its own territory.
Officials under President Daniel Noboa have pushed back on Petro’s claims, maintaining that their campaign is focused on dismantling criminal networks inside Ecuador rather than across the border. They have rejected the idea that Ecuadorian forces carried out any unauthorized or cross-border strikes, directly contradicting Colombia’s narrative.
More to come.
