ELN conducts 11 drone attacks in Chocó, Colombia

The National Liberation Army (ELN) has carried out at least 11 drone-led explosive attacks over a three-day period in the Chocó department of Colombia. The offensive targeted security forces and local infrastructure in the municipalities of Condoto, Nóvita, and Río Iró.

In Condoto, four explosive devices were launched against a police station and checkpoint, resulting in an injury to an officer. In Nóvita, six attacks involving drones and grenades targeted military and police installations, with one explosion hitting a nearby residence during a local religious service. The most recent attack was reported in Río Iró against the local police headquarters.

Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba highlighted a “technological vulnerability” in the region, noting a lack of anti-drone and anti-radar countermeasures at local stations. The Defensoría del Pueblo warned that such tactics increase risks for civilians and noted that drone-based attacks have seen a significant rise across various Colombian territories.