Ecuador's president declares 'internal armed conflict' as US embassy monitoring threats to safety of Americans

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa says his country is dealing with what he described as an "internal armed conflict" following a high-profile prisoner escape on Sunday.

"On January 9, after numerous attacks by organized criminal gangs across Ecuador against private, public, and government institutions, President Noboa declared the existence of an internal armed conflict and authorized military action against these groups," the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Ecuador said. "The Ministry of Education has announced that all schools will operate virtually through January 12 and the Ministry of Labor has recommended telework wherever possible. As such, the Embassy has authorized telework for mission employees through January 12.  Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.

"The United States Embassy and Consulate in Ecuador are monitoring reports of criminal activity and other threats to safety and security of U.S. citizens in Ecuador," it added.