Sixteen Ecuadorian fishermen are suing the US government over a March 2026 drone strike, part of Operation Southern Spear, that sank their boat, the La Negra Francesca Duarte II, burned two crew members, and led to weeks of detention in El Salvador. Their attorney, Dan Kovalik, seeks compensation, hopes the case prompts congressional hearings, and expects the government to contest it; the Pentagon and Southern Command deny involvement.