Drone attack kills three Colombian soldiers, army says

A nighttime attack using explosive-laden drones on a military compound in northeastern Colombia killed three soldiers and wounded four others, the Colombian army said Saturday, in the latest assault authorities have blamed on the National Liberation Army rebel group.

The attack happened late Friday in the municipality of Ocaña, in Norte de Santander department, near Colombia’s border with Venezuela. Authorities said drones dropped explosives onto the compound before fighting broke out inside the facility.

The army said two soldiers died at the site and a third died after receiving medical attention. In a statement posted on X, the military identified the dead as Captain Marco David Pirajón Montezuma, Professional Soldier Joel Alberto Jiménez Jaramillo and Professional Soldier Jhon Carlos Marrugo Manjarrez.

“In the context of the operations deployed following these events, Captain Marco David Pirajón Montezuma, Professional Soldier Joel Alberto Jiménez Jaramillo, and Professional Soldier Jhon Carlos Marrugo Manjarrez were killed during an engagement in combat, while honorably and committedly carrying out their duty in service to the Nation,” the military said.

Colombian authorities blamed the attack on the ELN, an armed group active since 1964. Al Jazeera reported, citing AFP and an unnamed security official, that at least 20 drones loaded with explosives were used in the attack.

President Abelardo de la Espriella condemned the assault and said the state would respond forcefully.

“To the ELN I say with absolute clarity: for every police officer or soldier you kill, I will bring down on you the full weight and legitimate force of the State,” de la Espriella said in a statement on social media, according to Al Jazeera. CBS News quoted him as saying, “For every police officer or soldier murdered, we will bring the full weight and legitimate force of the State down upon the criminals.”

The attack took place in the Catatumbo region, which includes parts of Norte de Santander and Cesar departments. Much of the ELN is based there, and the government has carried out military raids against armed groups in the area. The region connects to the porous border with Venezuela and is one of Colombia’s main coca-producing areas.

CBS News reported that the ELN also harbors dissident factions of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, that did not join the peace agreement a decade ago. Both groups are vying for control of the strategic region, the outlet reported.

De la Espriella, a millionaire who received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, won a close runoff election in June and began his four-year term on Aug. 7, according to CBS News. Al Jazeera reported that he won office pledging a return to militarized confrontation with armed groups and criminal organizations, despite concerns that such an approach could lead to increased violence and possible rights abuses.

Since taking office, de la Espriella has joined the Shield of the Americas, an anti-cartel alliance headed by the United States, according to CBS News. Al Jazeera reported that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet de la Espriella in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla next week.

Colombia has seen other deadly attacks in recent weeks. In August, an explosion outside a police station in Cúcuta injured 11 police officers and killed a police dog, an attack officials also blamed on the ELN, CBS News reported. Earlier this week, at least one civilian was killed and 11 other people were injured when a car bomb exploded outside a police station in northeastern Colombia.