At least three soldiers killed in drone attack in Colombia
At least three service members were killed in the city of Ocaña in northeastern Colombia as a result of a drone attack and a subsequent clash on the grounds of a military unit. Four others were wounded, Anadolu Agency reports, citing the Colombian military.
Attack near the border
The attack took place on Friday evening and targeted a military unit in Ocaña, Norte de Santander Department, near the border with Venezuela. According to the military, two soldiers were killed at the scene, while a third died after receiving medical care.
Local authorities blamed the attack on Colombia’s National Liberation Army rebel group, known as the ELN. The group has operated since 1964 and is primarily based in the Catatumbo region, which includes parts of the Norte de Santander and Cesar departments.
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President’s response
President Abelardo de la Espriella condemned the attack. According to The Washington Post, he said that the state would use all lawful force against criminals for every police officer or soldier killed.
Catatumbo borders Venezuela and is one of Colombia’s main coca-growing areas. According to Anadolu Agency, the ELN and dissident groups from the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that rejected the peace agreement are competing for control of this strategic region.
In August, an explosion near a police station in Cúcuta wounded 11 law enforcement officers and killed a service dog; officials also blamed the ELN for it. Earlier this week, a car bomb near a police station in the country’s northeast killed at least one civilian and wounded another 11 people.
