BOGOTA, Colombia — A drone attack on a military base in northern Colombia killed three soldiers and wounded at least eight, according to the Colombian army’s statement on Saturday.
Authorities have not identified the perpetrators of the assault in Santa Rosa del Sur, a small town situated on the foothills of the San Lucas mountain range. The surrounding region is known for its gold mines and has been contested for years by the Gulf Clan, the National Liberation Army, and several smaller factions formerly linked to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Social media footage captured billowing smoke after three explosions at the base, with soldiers taking cover in sandbag‑constructed shelters.
President Abelardo de la Espriella stated on X that those responsible for the attack “will have nowhere to hide,” adding that “every assault on our soldiers reinforces our determination to protect Colombia.”
Since assuming office in August, President de la Espriella has seen a surge in violence across multiple rural regions of Colombia.
The conservative president halted peace negotiations with the remaining rebel factions and has adopted a tougher stance, increasing airstrikes, militarizing select cities, and establishing joint task forces to safeguard strategic assets such as the pipeline linking the Caribbean coast to central Colombia.
In retaliation, drug gangs and rebel groups have escalated attacks on Colombia’s security forces. Last week, a military base in Tolima province was struck with gas‑canister‑propelled missiles, resulting in the deaths of four civilians. In the border city of Cúcuta, police have been targeted repeatedly with remotely detonated bombs.
Prior to de la Espriella’s inauguration in August, the government had pursued multiple rounds of peace talks with rebel groups, achieving limited results. His administration contends that drug gangs and rebel factions have exploited ceasefire agreements to cement control over rural zones, levying taxes on local businesses and profiting from the drug trade.
The 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) facilitated the demobilization of over 14,000 fighters and allowed former combatants to establish a political party.
In recent years, smaller armed groups have been contesting territory previously held by the FARC guerrillas.
According to ACLED, which tracks global conflict incidents, state forces and illegal armed groups conducted 34 bomb or explosive attacks in Colombia during the four‑week period ending October 16—a 9% rise over the previous year’s average for the same span.
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