Ecuadorean Fishing Boats Attacked by Mysterious Drones
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Ecuadorean Fishing Boats Attacked by Mysterious Drones
- Multiple Ecuadorean fishing vessels have been attacked by drones in the Pacific Ocean between January and March 2026, resulting in at least eight missing crew members.
- Human Rights Watch reported on July 21, 2026, that the United States likely played a role in these attacks, which survivors claim involved armed U.S. nationals.
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Between January and March 2026, several Ecuadorean fishing boats in the Eastern Pacific were subjected to drone attacks, leading to the disappearance of eight crew members and injuries to others. The vessel *Fiorella* disappeared on January 20, 2026, with eight crew members still missing and presumed dead. Later, on March 17 and 26, the fishing vessels *La Negra Francisca Duarte II* and the *Don Maca* also came under attack by armed drones. Survivors from these incidents reported that their boats were bombarded by drones, forcing them to abandon ship.
Fishermen who survived the attacks recounted being detained at gunpoint by English-speaking personnel in military-style uniforms with U.S. flag insignias. They allege they were held on a blue-and-white vessel, subjected to harsh conditions, and then transferred to the Salvadoran Coast Guard. The U.S. Department of Defense and Coast Guard have denied responsibility for these attacks.
However, a Human Rights Watch report released on July 21, 2026, concluded that the U.S. “had some level of involvement in, or knowledge of, these attacks.” The report also highlighted that the U.S. military has been increasing its controversial strikes against unidentified boats in the Caribbean and off the Pacific coast of Central America, claiming they are transporting drugs. These strikes have resulted in at least 215 deaths since September 2025, with rights groups condemning them as extrajudicial killings. Two Democratic congressmen, Joaquin Castro and Bill Keating, have demanded a “full accounting” of these incidents from U.S. officials. In a related development, a prosecutor in Ecuador investigating the boat attacks was killed in June 2026.