Seven Colombian Soldiers Killed in Guerrilla Attack: Army

[Starmix]

According to the report, Colombia’s ELN guerrilla group attacked a military base near Venezuela with drones and explosives, killing seven soldiers and wounding 30, the army said Friday.

The report stated that it was founded in 1964 and inspired by the Cuban revolution, the ELN is the oldest surviving guerrilla group in the Americas, and controls key drug-producing regions of Colombia.

The report of Thursday night's attack on the rural military outpost in Aguachica, near the border with Venezuela, was the second deadly clash with security forces in a week. Two police officers were killed on Tuesday in Cali.

In addition to the report, Washington is conducting a campaign against drug trafficking. Colombia is the world’s top cocaine producer, according to the UN.

The ELN, which is present in over a fifth of Colombia’s 1,100-plus municipalities, vowed last week to fight for Colombia’s defense in the face of US threats of imperialist intervention.


Source: The Defense Post

 

[gwolf666]

The news of the ELN attack in Aguachica serves as a reminder of the enduring complexity of the armed conflict in Colombia. The use of drones and explosives demonstrates how these groups are adapting technologically, further increasing the threat to security forces. The fact that the ELN, founded in 1964 and inspired by the Cuban Revolution, remains active after so many decades reflects the difficulty of eradicating organizations with deep roots in drug-producing regions. Moreover, its presence in more than a fifth of Colombian municipalities underscores its territorial reach. Washington's response, with its anti-drug campaign, adds an international dimension that further complicates the situation. Meanwhile, the ELN's pronouncements about "defending Colombia" against alleged external interventions appear to be more propaganda than a genuine political strategy.