In a significant escalation of conflict, Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) launched a drone and explosive attack on a military base near the Venezuela border, resulting in the deaths of seven soldiers and injuries to 30 others, according to military reports released on Friday.
The ELN, which has its roots in the Cuban revolution and was founded in 1964, is recognized as the longest-lasting guerrilla force in the Americas. The group maintains control over crucial drug-producing areas in Colombia, and attempts to negotiate peace settlements have often faltered.
The attack occurred on Thursday night at a rural military outpost in Aguachica. This incident marked the second deadly conflict with security forces within a week; earlier on Tuesday, two police officers lost their lives in a separate incident in the city of Cali.
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the attack, labeling it as a terrorist action. He took to social media platform X to express his outrage, asserting the need to completely dismantle the ELN. Although Sanchez initially reported six soldier fatalities, the army later confirmed that the death toll had risen to seven, with approximately 30 other personnel wounded in the assault.
Videos circulating on social media depicted the aftermath of the attack, showing wounded soldiers being transported to a local medical facility on stretchers and wheelchairs, alongside footage of fires that reportedly erupted due to the explosions at the base.
President Gustavo Petro, who took office in 2022 and has a history as a former guerrilla, initiated attempts to negotiate with various armed groups associated with cocaine production. These negotiations, however, have faced numerous hurdles and largely stalled.
Furthermore, in October, the United States imposed sanctions on President Petro, citing his purported hesitance to confront cartel activities. U.S. authorities have been vigilant in monitoring alleged narco-trafficking operations, particularly off the coast of Venezuela, warning Petro that he could face repercussions over Colombia’s standing as the world’s leading cocaine producer, as noted by the United Nations.
The ELN occupies over 20% of Colombia’s more than 1,100 municipalities and, just last week, reiterated its commitment to defending the nation against what it describes as U.S. imperialist threats. This recent attack signals a troubling resurgence in violence, raising new concerns about the security situation in Colombia as negotiations continue to stumble.
