Colombia kills nine guerrillas in Venezuela border strike

Colombian defence forces reported on November 14 that a military operation near the Venezuelan border resulted in the deaths of nine guerrilla fighters, according to a source from the Defence Ministry cited by AFP.

The strike occurred in Arauca province and forms part of President Gustavo Petro’s intensified campaign against rebel groups linked to cocaine trafficking, following mounting criticism that his administration had not acted decisively against these armed factions.

Local media reports indicate that authorities are investigating whether the bombing killed Antonio Medina, a senior rebel commander accused of orchestrating a violent conflict between former FARC members and the National Liberation Army (ELN).

This operation comes after a series of Colombian military airstrikes earlier this week in the Amazon region, which targeted an ex-FARC splinter group and reportedly killed 19 fighters.

President Petro, a leftist leader, has faced both pre-election criticism and US sanctions over accusations that his government was reluctant to confront armed groups involved in drug trafficking.

In October, the United States imposed unprecedented sanctions on Petro, his wife, his son, and a senior aide, alleging their involvement in facilitating cartel operations. The US government, however, did not provide evidence directly linking Petro to drug trafficking.

Since taking office in 2022, Petro has pursued a strategy of negotiating with well-armed cocaine-producing groups rather than engaging in open conflict. While he is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term, ongoing criticism and sanctions could negatively affect his political allies ahead of next year’s elections.

By Tamilla Hasanova