Infighting between factions of a gang vying for control over territory in Ecuador's largest city Guayaquil left nearly two dozen people dead, authorities said on Friday. Gun battles broke out across the northern neighborhood of Nueva Prosperina on Thursday afternoon between members of criminal group Los Tiguerones,

Gangs, drugs and public safety threats are ravaging Ecuador’s largest city and may push the president to seek help from the United States.

The government of President Daniel Noboa, who is running for reelection in an April run-off, has intensified security operations over the past several weeks in the country’ most violent areas as part of a war on drug gangs declared by Noboa.