Colombian Military Conducts First Bombing Against ELN in Catatumbo Region
Primary Topic: Military Operation against ELN in Colombia
Primary Keyword: ELN Bombing Colombia
Secondary Keywords: Catatumbo, Norte de Santander, Colombian Military, Guerrilla Warfare, Operation Beta, Armed Conflict, Hugo Alejandro López Barreto, Drug Trafficking, Tibú, El tarra.
The Colombian government has confirmed its first bombing operation targeting the National Liberation Army (ELN) in the Catatumbo region. Military sources confirmed to noticias Caracol that the bombing occurred around midnight, focusing on the ELN’s Eastern War Front, responsible for criminal activity in the area.
The operation was centered between the municipalities of Tibú and El Tarra in Norte de Santander. Intelligence reports indicated the presence of 50 to 60 ELN guerrillas at the targeted location – a known encampment used for territorial control, civilian oversight, and facilitating drug trafficking routes.
The military operation, dubbed an “Operation Beta,” involved the Colombian National Army, the Colombian Aerospace Force, and the National Police. Following the bombing, ground and air troops were deployed to assess casualties and the overall impact of the operation.
As of reports, seven suspected ELN guerrillas have been confirmed dead, with one additional member captured. Authorities seized a meaningful amount of weaponry, including rifles, ammunition, improvised explosive devices, drones, and grenades adapted for unmanned aerial vehicles.
Military officials emphasized the operation’s adherence to human rights principles, stating its objective is to protect the lives and well-being of civilians affected by the ELN and other armed groups.
General Hugo Alejandro López Barreto, Commander General of the Colombian Military Forces, affirmed the continuation of sustained and coordinated offensives in the Catatumbo region to decisively weaken the ELN and other criminal organizations threatening the civilian population.
This bombing marks the first strike against the ELN as a similar operation in the Chocó department in September 2021.
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