Ecuador defends US sinking of vessels as joint anti-drug operation

The Ecuadorian government has defended the United States military's sinking of vessels in the Pacific, describing the actions as part of a legitimate joint anti-drug operation.

However, the operation has faced strong pushback from the families of detained crew members. Relatives have contested the official narrative, asserting that the men are innocent fishermen rather than drug smugglers and that US forces acted without sufficient evidence.