The Ecuadorian army launched Friday a major military operation in the province of Carchi, near the Colombian border, to allegedly combat illegal gold mining activities. The operation, which involved the deployment of helicopters and armored vehicles took place amid strong diplomatic tensions between Quito and Bogota, days after Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused Ecuador of bombing drug traffickers in Colombian territory. Days before Ecuador's failed operation against an alleged drug traffickers' camp which turned out to be a dairy farm, alarmed the nation's organizations, which argue that the military response to a structural problem is inadequate and dangerous.<br /><br />These and more stories now!<br /><br />🌐Join teleSUR's community and be part of a space where your ideas matter. <br />https://chat.whatsapp.com/KLABTE41aSj3ioYabXQQ6K<br />🗣 Don't be left behind, join teleSUR's Channel<br />https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va98Z437Noa2tjytCt1N<br />Web💬 https://www.telesurenglish.net/<br />X🧶 https://twitter.com/telesurenglish<br />Instagram 📸 https://www.instagram.com/telesurenglish/?hl=es<br />Facebook 📱 https://www.facebook.com/teleSUREnglishOfficial<br />YouTube ⏯ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmuTmpLY35O3csvhyA6vrkg<br />TikTok👌🏼 https://www.tiktok.com/@telesurenglish?_t=8hMLCY0a6z7&_r=1<br />
