Colombian army rescues 39 hostages in Chocó, two soldiers killed

On 14 July 2026 the National Liberation Army (ELN) abducted 39 civilians, including a child, on the Quibdó‑Carmen de Atrato highway in the remote Chocó department. The Colombian army launched a rapid rescue operation the same day, freeing all hostages and evacuating them by helicopter to the 15th Brigade in Quibdó. The clash left two professional soldiers – Elibert Ducuara Mosquera and Jean Carlos Vallejo – dead and five to six other troops wounded. Regional governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba confirmed that all survivors were unharmed and that the Institute for Family Welfare would verify the condition of the minors. The incident highlights the ELN’s continued presence in the Pacific region, the suspension of peace talks since 2025, and comes as the country prepares for the inauguration of president‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella, who has pledged a tougher security stance.