CIA Conducted Secret Drone Strikes and Torture Operations Near Ecuador's Galápagos Islands
The Washington Post revealed that the CIA carried out secret operations involving drone strikes on fishing boats near Ecuador's Galápagos Islands, with one boat disappearing with eight crew members presumed dead. Survivors reported being abducted, hooded, handcuffed, and tortured.
The Secret Operation Exposed
The U.S. strikes on several fishing boats near Ecuador's Galápagos Islands earlier this year were part of a secret operation conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency, the CIA. That's according to The Washington Post, which spoke to a source anonymously. The disclosure marks a significant revelation about covert American military operations in the region.
Documented Incidents
One of the boats disappeared on January 20 along with eight of its crew members, who are presumed dead, according to the United Nations. Survivors of two other vessels that came under attack in March said they were abducted by U.S. forces, hooded, cuffed and tortured aboard a ship before being taken to El Salvador.
Official Accountability
No U.S. government agency has claimed responsibility for those strikes, which the Post reports are separate from the Trump administration's publicly acknowledged strikes on boats off the Caribbean and Pacific. The revelation raises serious questions about the legal basis for these operations and potential violations of international law.
Regional Military Exercises
Meanwhile, U.S. Southern Command and Panama have concluded PANAMAX 2026, a series of war games involving at least 17 other countries from across the Americas. It was the first time joint U.S. military exercises took place in Panama since 2012. The timing of these disclosures raises tensions regarding U.S. military operations and cooperation in Latin America.