BOGOTA. – After the arrival to power of the new president of Colombia, Abelardo De la Espriella, The actions of illegal armed groups that respond to the right-wing leader’s offensive against organized crime have intensified.
A Colombian Army base in the municipality of Convencion, in the department of Norte de Santander, in the Catatumbo region, bordering Venezuela, was attacked early this Thursday with 43 explosive devices launched from drones. that caused injuries to two soldiersreported the military institution.
De la Espriella assured on Friday, August 7, upon assuming office as the new president of Colombia, that he will face “without truce to narcoterrorism.” In turn, he ruled out any peace negotiations with armed groups, in a turn that recomposes the alliance between Bogotá and Washington.
“I reaffirm my intention to relentlessly defeat narcoterrorism and all criminal organizations,” said the president in front of hundreds of soldiers, four war tanks and two helicopters.
“In this terrorist action approximately 43 explosive devices, launched from unmanned aircraft, which caused damage to part of the infrastructure of this military unit and left two soldiers affected by the shock wave,” indicated the Vulcano Task Force Command in a statement about the attack this Thursday.
They also indicated: “The National Army categorically rejects the use of unmanned aircraft equipped with explosive devices by organized armed groups.”
The use of drones loaded with explosives is a common practice in the Colombian armed conflict that has claimed several victims between military, police and civilian population.
They operate mainly in Catatumbo the guerrilla of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the 33rd front of the dissidents of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who dispute the area for its coca crops and drug trafficking routes.
“The troops of the Second Division will continue to carry out sustained and forceful military operations against the GAO ELN, a structure responsible for repeated violent acts that alter the tranquility, security and well-being of the inhabitants of Catatumbo,” the Army stated in X.
The soldiers affected by this Thursday’s attack were evacuated with the support of the Air Force “to transfer them to a medical care center,” indicated the Vulcano Task Force.
FARC member captured
Hours before the inauguration in Cali, the Army reported that in a military operation carried out by troops from the 29th Brigade, together with the Colombian Police, alias “Minor”, a member of the commission, was captured. of the Dagoberto Ramos Residual Structure of the FARC dissidents, accused of “sowing terror” in the municipality of Miranda, in the Department of Cauca.
They reported that during the operation a firearm, ammunition, a drone, allegedly used for criminal intelligence work, electrical detonators and material of interest to the authorities were seized, “significantly affecting the criminal capabilities of this illegal structure.”
