Colombia Drone Attack by Suspected Guerrillas Kills 3 Soldiers, Army Says

At least three soldiers were killed and four others wounded in northeastern Colombia following an attack involving explosives dropped from drones and a subsequent fire-fight inside a military compound, according to the Colombian army.

Local authorities have blamed the Friday assault on the National Liberation Army (ELN), a rebel group. The attack targeted a military unit in the municipality of Ocaña, located in the Norte de Santander department along the border with Venezuela.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the Colombian military confirmed that two soldiers died at the scene while a third passed away after receiving medical attention. The fallen personnel were identified as Captain Marco David Pirajón Montezuma, Professional Soldier Joel Alberto Jiménez Jaramillo, and Professional Soldier Jhon Carlos Marrugo Manjarrez. “They were killed during an engagement in combat, while honorably and committedly carrying out their duty in service to the Nation,” the military said.

President Abelardo de la Espriella condemned the violence, vowing a robust state response. “For every police officer or soldier murdered, we will bring the full weight and legitimate force of the State down upon the criminals,” he stated.

De la Espriella, a millionaire who secured a close runoff victory in June and received President Trump’s endorsement, assumed office on August 7. His administration has since joined the Shield of the Americas, a U.S.-led anti-cartel alliance, and he has expressed intentions to build military partnerships with Israel and the United States to bolster the fight against guerrilla groups.

The ELN, active since 1964, maintains a significant presence in the Catatumbo region, which spans parts of Norte de Santander and Cesar departments. The group also shelters dissident factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that rejected a peace agreement a decade ago. Both organizations are competing for control of the strategic area, which features a porous border with Venezuela and is a primary hub for coca production.

This incident follows a series of recent attacks attributed to the ELN in the region. In August, an explosion outside a police station in Cucuta injured 11 officers and killed a police dog. Earlier this week, a car bomb detonated near another police station in northeastern Colombia, killing at least one civilian and wounding 11 others.