Ecuadorian Fishermen Sue Over U.S. Strike and Detention

The fishermen say they were returning from a two-week trip when two armed drones hit their vessel, the La Negra Francesca Duarte II, about 385 nautical miles from Manta, Ecuador. Their planned complaint says the boat was destroyed and two crew members suffered serious burns. The men deny any connection to drug trafficking and seek unspecified damages for the attack and their subsequent detention in El Salvador for several weeks.

The complaint says the crew escaped in emergency boats and rowed toward a nearby ship. It alleges U.S. military personnel restrained and hooded them before taking them into custody. The fishermen also say Ecuadorian officials inspected the vessel shortly before the attack and reported that it was free of drugs. Their lawyers argue the operation lacked congressional authorization and that no armed conflict justified the use of force.

The case challenges Operation Southern Spear, a campaign launched in late 2025. The Washington Office on Latin America says at least 238 people have been killed in strikes carried out under the campaign. The fishermen’s lawyer, Dan Kovalik, says losing the boat has left the men unable to work and support their families; two are still dealing with their injuries.

The Defense Department did not address the pending case. In June, U.S. Southern Command said U.S. forces had no part in episodes concerning Ecuadorian fishing boats, while stating that U.S. operations follow established legal authorities. Kovalik expects the government to contest the case. He hopes it will also prompt congressional hearings after Democrats take control of Congress in January. The suit would join earlier litigation by families of two Trinidadian fishermen killed in a separate U.S. strike.

Fishermen’s Lawsuit Puts Trump’s Boat Strikes Under Scrutiny

A lawsuit by 16 Ecuadorian fishermen challenges a U.S. military campaign that has killed at least 238 people, according to the Washington Office on Latin America. The men say armed drones sank their boat in the Pacific on March 17, burned two crew members and left the survivors in U.S. custody before they were imprisoned for weeks in El Salvador.

The crew denies involvement in drug trafficking. Their complaint says Ecuadorian officials had inspected the vessel and found no drugs before the attack. It argues that the operation lacked congressional authorization and that there was no armed conflict to justify using military force. Those allegations put basic questions of accountability and civilian protection at the center of the case.

The fishermen are seeking unspecified damages. Their lawyer, Dan Kovalik, says the destroyed boat has left the men unable to earn a living, while two continue dealing with serious injuries. The Defense Department declined to address pending litigation; in June, Southern Command said U.S. forces had no role in events concerning Ecuadorian fishing boats.

The administration’s claim that operations follow legal authorities does not resolve the fishermen’s allegations. Kovalik expects the government to fight the lawsuit, but hopes it will help spur congressional hearings after Democrats take control of Congress in January. The case follows a separate suit by families of two Trinidadian fishermen killed in a U.S. strike.

Fishermen’s Claims Put U.S. Military Campaign Before a Court

The allegations in a planned lawsuit against the Trump administration raise serious questions about the use of military force against a fishing boat, even as the government says U.S. operations follow established legal authorities. Sixteen Ecuadorian fishermen say a March 17 drone strike destroyed their vessel and that U.S. personnel detained them after they escaped into emergency boats.

The crew insists it had no role in drug trafficking. Its complaint says Ecuadorian officials had searched the boat and found no drugs, and argues the strike lacked congressional approval and was not justified by an armed conflict. Those claims will be tested in court; the Defense Department declined to comment on pending litigation, and Southern Command said in June that U.S. forces played no part in episodes concerning Ecuadorian fishing vessels.

The fishermen seek unspecified damages, alleging they were held for weeks in El Salvador after the attack. Their lawyer says the loss of the boat has kept them from working, and two crew members are still coping with injuries. The case joins earlier litigation by families of two Trinidadian fishermen killed in a separate U.S. strike.

The lawsuit is also being positioned as a means to bring the campaign before Congress. Kovalik hopes Democrats, who are set to take control of Congress in January, will hold hearings. The court case will test the fishermen’s allegations against the government’s position that its forces operate under legal authority.