Ecuador Air Force Members Arrested for Alleged Child Disappearances

An Ecuadorian judge ordered the detention of 16 air force members amid allegations of involvement in the forced disappearance of four minors. The boys, aged 11 to 15, vanished from a Guayaquil neighborhood on Dec. 8. This incident has caused nationwide outrage.

A judge in Ecuador has taken decisive action, ordering the detention of 16 members of the country's air force. This move comes as prosecutors launch an investigation into their possible involvement in the forced disappearance of four children.

The minors, all boys aged between 11 and 15, were last seen on December 8 in a neighborhood of Guayaquil. The incident, allegedly involving air force personnel, has triggered widespread public anger across Ecuador.

The attorney general's office announced the developments, underscoring the case's gravity and the national outcry it has provoked.

(With inputs from agencies.)