# Colombian Army anti‑explosive operations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/colombian-army-antiexplosive-operations
> Updated: 2026-08-03T18:40:37.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 3.

The Colombian National Army has continued a series of security campaigns aimed at locating and neutralising explosive devices placed by armed groups. In mid‑July, Battalion 14 of the Force Task Hércules destroyed about 100 kg of explosives and 52 activation devices in the Arenal area of Barbacoas, Nariño, a cache linked to the National Coordinating Structure of the Bolivarian Army. A week later, the 8th Battalion San Mateo safely detonated an anti‑personnel landmine near an indigenous settlement in Risaralda, attributed to the ELN’s Manuel Hernández El Boche front, while the 10th Light Infantry Battalion uncovered and destroyed an IED in Ituango, Antioquia, tied to a FARC dissident faction.

The effort extended into early August. Army specialists located and destroyed a depot in La Reforma, Meta, containing pentolita, black powder and detonating cord, which authorities said belonged to the Ever Castro structure of FARC dissidents. Separately, the National Police bomb‑disposal unit neutralised a bus carrying unknown explosives near Villa Rica, Cauca, preventing a possible attack ahead of the presidential inauguration in Cali. These actions illustrate the army’s ongoing focus on removing guerrilla‑placed explosives to protect civilians and state infrastructure across multiple departments.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-03: Colombian Security Forces Neutralize Explosives in Meta and Near Cali

Colombian Army destroyed an explosives depot in Meta linked to FARC dissidents, while police neutralised a bomb‑laden bus near Cali ahead of the presidential inauguration.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-security-forces-neutralize-explosives-in-meta-and-near-cali

### 2026-07-24: Colombian Army destroys landmines and IEDs in Risaralda and Antioquia

The Colombian army neutralized a VOIED anti‑personnel mine near a community in Risaralda and an improvised bomb on a rural road in Ituango, Antioquia, averting civilian casualties.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-army-destroys-landmines-and-ieds-in-risaralda-and-antioquia

### 2026-07-18: Colombian Army neutralizes 100 kg of explosives in Barbacoas, Nariño

Colombia’s army destroyed a 100 kg explosives cache in Barbacoas, Nariño, averting a potential terrorist attack on civilians and security forces.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-army-neutralizes-100-kg-of-explosives-in-barbacoas-nario

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Cite as: Colombian Army anti‑explosive operations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/colombian-army-antiexplosive-operations