The U.S. is deploying several hundred troops from the 10th Mountain Division to Latin America as the Pentagon expands its campaign against drug cartels.

A 600-soldier battalion has begun deploying to Panama, with troops also expected to train in Colombia and Honduras and potentially support special operations against traffickers.

The Pentagon has also moved MQ-9 Reaper drones to Colombia and Ecuador, while U.S. commanders are planning to expand strikes from boats to land targets.