< Back to all clusters
[INTERNATIONAL] · Colombia · 62 sources

started · updated

Colombia military operation kills 20 FARC dissidents in Guaviare

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella confirmed that Military Operation Azarias, targeting FARC dissidents in the Guaviare department, resulted in 20 deaths, five captures, and the recovery of two minors. The operation specifically targeted the Carolina Ramírez structure, a faction under the command of Néstor Gregorio Vera, known as alias ‘Iván Mordisco’. Among the deceased was a key leader of the structure, alias ‘Tigre’ or ‘Pintado’, whose identity was verified through fingerprint testing.

During the operation, military forces seized a significant cache of weaponry, including 26 rifles, four machine guns, three pistols, and various tactical equipment. This offensive marks a significant shift in national security policy under the De la Espriella administration, which has prioritized military force over the peace dialogue processes maintained by his predecessor.

Separately, authorities reported on a previous bombing in El Retorno, Guaviare, on August 27, which killed ten people, including three minors. The National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences confirmed that nine of those bodies have been identified, while the tenth remains unidentified due to its physical state. Human Rights Watch has raised concerns regarding the increasing recruitment of children by armed groups in Colombia, noting that approximately 1,500 children have been recruited since 2021.

Entities

Abelardo De La Espriella · Carolina Ramírez Front · Carolina Ramírez structure · Colombia · Colombian National Army · El Tigre · FARC · FARC dissidents · Guaviare · Iván Mordisco · Jorge Eduardo Mora López · Jorge Mora

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources