Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has promised an intensified campaign against armed groups after a coordinated drone assault on a military installation left three soldiers dead and four others wounded.
Authorities said at least 20 explosive-carrying UAVs targeted the El Trapiche military post in Ocaña, Norte de Santander, on Friday night, striking barracks and other areas before fighting erupted on the ground.
Two soldiers were killed immediately and a third later died from his injuries, while shrapnel also damaged a Colombian Air Force helicopter. The military blamed the attack on the National Liberation Army (ELN), describing it as a “terrorist action.”
De la Espriella warned the guerrilla organisation that “for every police officer or soldier you kill, I will bring down on you the full weight and legitimate force of the State,” while announcing a new strategy aimed at dismantling the ELN’s leadership, financing and criminal infrastructure in the Catatumbo region.
The attack follows several deadly bombings targeting police facilities as Colombia experiences a renewed surge in armed violence. De la Espriella, who took office last month on a law-and-order platform, has expanded military operations and strengthened security cooperation with Washington through the US-led Shield of the Americas anti-cartel initiative.
“The drone war I witnessed is no longer a footnote in Colombia’s conflict. It is a preview of where conflict is heading.”@BramEbus investigates the rapid spread of drones in Colombia’s conflicts and why the emerging threat will be a critical challenge for the new government. pic.twitter.com/HFlpyIGssP
— Crisis Group (@CrisisGroup) September 4, 2026
