Colombian military operation targets ELN front in the Catatumbo region.
The bombing occurred in an area considered strategic by government forces.
247 - Colombian military forces carried out a bombing raid against the National Liberation Army (ELN) in the Catatumbo region, in the department of Norte de Santander. The operation targeted the group's Northeastern War Front and took place between the municipalities of Tibú and El Tarra. This information comes from [source missing]. teleSUR.
The operation was carried out at midnight based on intelligence data indicating the presence of approximately 50 to 60 ELN members in a camp area. The location is considered by government forces to be strategic for territorial control and drug trafficking routes.
Seven suspects killed and weapons seized.
The Army reported that seven suspected ELN members were killed during the bombing and that one member of the organization was captured. During the operation, troops seized a large quantity of war materiel, including long and short firearms, ammunition, and explosive devices.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro commented on the action through a post on the social network X. According to the head of the Executive branch, the attack on Catatumbo corresponds to the 14th bombing carried out during his government. Petro stated that the operation sought "to avoid, as much as possible, the fall of minors."
President proposes replacing coca crops.
In the same publication, Petro invited the peasantry to participate in the voluntary eradication of coca leaf crops and instructed the Presidential offices to prioritize the replacement of these crops. "I invite the peasantry to eradicate coca leaf crops voluntarily. The Presidential offices should prioritize crop substitution," he stated.
The president also made a direct appeal to the ELN to accept a scientific and international verification mission aimed at the complete handover of the infrastructure used by multinational drug trafficking. According to Petro, this measure would allow the organization to return to the path of peace.
Petro defends "denarcotization" of the border with Venezuela.
"I invite the ELN to accept a scientific and international verification mission for the complete handover of the infrastructure that serves multinational drug trafficking and to recover the path to peace," he declared.
Petro also invited the Catholic Church to collaborate in setting up this verification body and defended the need to "de-narcotize" the border between Colombia and Venezuela. According to him, the goal is to allow the region's population to build its progress in freedom and strengthen citizen control of the border area.
