{"id":131554,"date":"2026-03-11T19:24:43","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2026\/03\/11\/ecuador-readies-major-offensive-on-criminal-groups-with-us-support\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T17:02:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:02:20","slug":"ecuador-readies-major-offensive-on-criminal-groups-with-us-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2026\/03\/11\/ecuador-readies-major-offensive-on-criminal-groups-with-us-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecuador readies major offensive on criminal groups with US support"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

QUITO, Ecuador \u2014 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 Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to a local radio station, Interior Minister John Reimberg urged citizens to observe an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew from March 15-30 in the provinces of Guayas, Los R\u00edos and Santo Domingo de los Ts\u00e1chilas \u2014 three of the most violent in the South American country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residents under curfew need to stay in their homes and keep the roads clear to facilitate the movement of troops and equipment, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do not want collateral victims from the attacks we are about to launch,\u201d Reimberg said. \u201cWe have significant support from U.S. forces for the operations we are about to carry out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador didn\u2019t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from The Associated Press. Neither the U.S. Defense Department nor the U.S. Southern Command immediately commented on the Ecuadorian offensive set for the weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The announcement came days after Ecuador and the U.S. began joint military operations against organized crime groups<\/a> in the South American country, although at the time neither government gave details of the location and scope of the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\t