Eleven soldiers killed in Ecuador after clash with criminal group

Ecuador

Eleven soldiers were killed and one was injured in Ecuador's Amazon region during an armed confrontation with a criminal group, the country's defence ministry said on Friday.

Reuters quoted the ministry as saying that the troops were attacked during an operation targeting illegal mining in the Alto Punino area.

The ambush was carried out by the Comandos de la Frontera, or 'Border Command,' an armed group, which used explosives, grenades and rifles during the assault, the ministry said.