Over a dozen Ecuadorian fishermen are suing the US government, alleging a military drone attack during 'Operation Southern Spear' sank their boat, caused severe burns, and led to their 'kidnapping and torture' in detention, despite their claims of no connection to drug trafficking.
Seventeen Ecuadorian fishermen are suing the US government after surviving a military drone attack on their boat, La Negra Francesca Duarte II, on March 17, which they claim was part of the Trump administration’s 'Operation Southern Spear.' The attack, occurring 385 nautical miles from Manta, Ecuador, involved two armed drones that exploded on their vessel, setting it ablaze and destroying it completely. Two crew members sustained serious burns on their legs, arms, and back. The fishermen insist they were returning from a two-week fishing trip with no ties to the drug trade, a claim supported by an earlier inspection by Ecuadorian authorities. After jumping overboard and rowing to US military personnel, they allege they were restrained with zip ties, hooded, and subsequently taken to a detention center in El Salvador, where they were imprisoned for several weeks, experiencing what their lawyer, Dan Kovalik, describes as 'kidnapping and torture.' The lawsuit, filed in a US district court in Pennsylvania, seeks unspecified financial compensation for the attack, their subsequent detention, and the loss of their livelihood. Kovalik also aims for the lawsuit to highlight and stop these 'manifestly unlawful' boat strikes, which advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union call a 'terrifying, lawless killing campaign at sea.' The lawsuit contends the attack was illegal due to a lack of congressional authority and a violation of international law, as there was no actual armed conflict to justify military force. The Pentagon and US Coast Guard have previously denied involvement in operations targeting Ecuadorian fishing vessels, stating US forces operate under legal authorities and high standards. This lawsuit joins similar litigation against the Trump administration, including one filed by families of Trinidadian fishermen killed in a US strike.
