In a notable escalation of conflict, the Colombian military has confirmed its first airstrike targeting the National Liberation Army (ELN) in the Catatumbo region, an area long contested by rebel and criminal groups. The operation, which took place overnight between Sunday and Monday, represents a renewed push by the government to dismantle the ELN’s presence in the strategically significant Norte de Santander department. Military officials report the deaths of at least seven suspected guerrillas and the seizure of a substantial cache of weapons and explosives following the coordinated operation involving the Army, Air Force, and National Police.
The Colombian military confirmed its first airstrike targeting the National Liberation Army (ELN) in the Catatumbo region. The operation, carried out around midnight, marks a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to combat the rebel group, which operates in the area.
The airstrike occurred between the municipalities of Tibú and El Tarra, in the Norte de Santander department. Military intelligence indicated that at least 50 to 60 guerrillas were present in the targeted area prior to the operation.
According to military sources, the location was a known encampment used by ELN members. The site was strategically positioned near a roadway used by the group for territorial control, civilian oversight, and the transport of narcotics.
Military officials stated the conditions were optimal for executing a targeted airstrike, a common operational tactic within the armed forces. The operation involved coordinated efforts from the National Army, the Colombian Air Force, and the National Police.
Troops are currently on the ground and conducting aerial searches of the strike zone to assess casualties and the overall impact of the operation. The military is working to determine the total number of ELN members killed.
At Least 7 Suspected Guerrillas Killed in Military Airstrikes
The National Army has confirmed the deaths of seven suspected ELN guerrillas and the capture of one individual. “Our soldiers on the ground report the neutralization of seven individuals, presumed members of the organized armed group ELN, and the capture of one more,” the military announced via social media. “During the military operation, a significant amount of war material was seized, including long and short firearms, ammunition, improvised explosive devices, destroyed drones, and grenades adapted for unmanned aircraft.”
The military emphasized that the offensive is being conducted with full respect for human rights, aiming to protect the lives and well-being of populations affected by clashes between armed groups. This operation targets both the ELN and other criminal groups operating in the region.
General Hugo Alejandro López Barreto, commander general of the Colombian Armed Forces, stated via social media, “We continue the sustained and coordinated offensive in Catatumbo. The Armed Forces are maintaining maximum operational effort to decisively weaken the structures of the ELN and GAO-r that threaten the civilian population.”
The last reported airstrike against the ELN in Colombia occurred in September 2021, in the department of Chocó. The recent escalation underscores the government’s renewed commitment to confronting the rebel group.
CAMILO ROJAS, PERIODISTA NOTICIAS CARACOL
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