An attack involving explosives dropped from drones, followed by a clash inside a military compound in north‑eastern Colombia, killed at least three soldiers and wounded four, Colombia’s army said on Saturday.
The strike, which took place late on Friday, targeted a unit in the municipality of Ocaña, in the Norte de Santander department that borders Venezuela. Two soldiers died at the scene and a third later succumbed to injuries after receiving medical attention, the army said on X.
President Abelardo de la Espriella condemned the attack, saying, “For every police officer or soldier murdered, we will bring the full weight and legitimate force of the state down upon the criminals.”
Authorities blame the National Liberation Army (ELN), an armed group active since 1964 that operates largely in the Catatumbo region, which includes parts of Norte de Santander and Cesar. The ELN also harbours dissident factions of the now‑defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that did not join the peace agreement a decade ago. Both groups vie for control of the strategic border area, a key coca‑producing zone.
In August, an explosion outside a police station in Cucuta injured 11 officers and killed a police dog; officials blamed that attack on the ELN. Earlier this week, a separate car bomb outside another police station injured 11 people and killed one civilian.
