Ecuadorian Fishermen Report Drone Attacks, 8 Missing as U.S. Denies Role
Updated
Updated · Democracy Now! · Aug 13
Ecuadorian Fishermen Report Drone Attacks, 8 Missing as U.S. Denies Role
2 articles · Updated · Democracy Now! · Aug 13
Summary
One Ecuadorian fishing boat has been lost at sea since January, leaving eight people missing and presumed dead after fishermen reported drone attacks by English-speaking assailants.
Survivors told the New York Times the attackers wore matching uniforms with American flag patches, while other fishermen said they were pulled from their boats, questioned and turned over to the El Salvador Navy before release.
The U.N. cited the missing vessel, and the U.S. Coast Guard and Pentagon denied any involvement in the incidents.
The allegations add to a widening mystery around attacks on fishing boats near the Galápagos, with Ecuador investigating and rights groups raising alarm.
How did a secret maritime operation lead to the unexplained abduction of Ecuadorian fishing crews to El Salvador?
What happened to the ten missing fishermen after their boat was targeted by a ghost plane near the Galápagos?
Over 200 Dead: Inside the CIA’s Covert Maritime Strikes on Ecuadorian Fishermen and the Legal, Political, and Human Fallout
Overview
In late 2025, President Donald Trump secretly approved Operation Southern Spear, routing lethal maritime strikes through the CIA to bypass public oversight. The CIA used the FENIX 701 surveillance jet, operating from El Salvador, to track Ecuadorian fishing boats like the Fiorella and Don Maca before they were destroyed by U.S. drones, resulting in missing crew and civilian deaths. Evidence shows the U.S. pre-coordinated rescues with the Salvadoran navy, proving foreknowledge of the attacks. As Ecuador’s government enabled foreign military operations, legal battles and UN actions intensified, especially after the assassination of prosecutor Alexandra Bravo, who investigated these strikes.