At least seven Colombian soldiers were killed and 30 others injured on Thursday after a guerrilla group launched a drone and explosive attack on an army base, according to the military.
The assault took place at Military Base 27 in the northern department of Cesar and was blamed on the National Liberation Army (ELN), which is designated a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union.
In a statement, the army said the attackers used drones fitted with improvised explosive devices, along with other unconventional explosives that were launched indiscriminately at the base. Reports indicate that the soldiers were resting in hammocks after completing a day of training when the attack occurred.
Those who were wounded were evacuated to nearby medical facilities, while army units moved quickly to secure the surrounding area and prevent further attacks, the military said.
The soldiers killed in the incident were identified as Jaime Alejandro Cárdenas Ramírez, Mateo Pino Pulgarín, Juan David Pérez Vides, Kevin Andrés Méndez Torres, Jhon Fredy Moreno Sierra, Brandon Daniel Valderrama Martínez and Jorge Mario Orozco Díaz.
Government Condemns Attack, Warns of Growing Drone Threat
Colombia’s defense minister, Pedro Sánchez Suárez, strongly condemned the attack and said the threat posed by the ELN must be dismantled to protect civilians and national security.
“Failure to neutralize this threat puts the population at serious risk,” he said. Sánchez Suárez added that while the armed forces have managed to stop roughly 95% of drone attacks, the use of such weapons has increased rapidly and now represents a major security challenge for the country.
The attack came shortly after the ELN declared a nationwide “armed strike,” which the group said was in response to what it described as threats of US intervention. The strike disrupted civilian travel and daily life in areas under the group’s influence and was accompanied by acts of violence targeting infrastructure and security forces.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing and additional details will be released as more information becomes available.