{
    "author": "Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and Reuters",
    "date_published": null,
    "dek": null,
    "direction": "ltr",
    "domain": "www.aljazeera.com",
    "excerpt": "Relatives of detained crew say US forces acted without evidence, claiming the men were fishermen, not smugglers.",
    "lead_image_url": "https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/afp_6a9b655c6afd-1788568924.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440",
    "next_page_url": null,
    "rendered_pages": 1,
    "title": "Ecuador defends US sinking of vessels as joint anti-drug operation",
    "total_pages": 1,
    "url": "https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/5/ecuador-defends-us-sinking-of-vessels-as-joint-anti-drug-operation",
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}