Six soldiers die in ELN guerrilla attack in Colombia

A video circulated on social media, recorded in a courtyard at the military base, showing the fire believed to have been caused by the explosion (see below).

Amid frustrated peace negotiations with the left-wing Gustavo Petro government, the ELN carried out the second deadly attack on public forces in a week, with no sign of the Christmas truce granted in previous years.

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Thursday’s explosion occurred at the installation of an infantry battalion located in a rural village in the department of César (north), the Military Forces said in a statement.

“I regret and reject this cowardly terrorist attack,” General Luis Emilio Cardozo said on the social network X.

The offensive carried out by the oldest American guerrilla against soldiers and civilians constitutes the worst wave of violence in a decade, aggravated by the violent pressure exerted by other armed organizations against the State.

Between Sunday and Wednesday, the ELN also intensified its pressure with an “armed parade”, while restrictions on the movement of the civilian population are known in regions where rebels of Guevarist origin exercise de facto authority.

Petro attempted to negotiate peace with the ELN after coming to power in 2022, as part of a so-called “total peace” strategy, aimed at demobilizing all armed groups in the country.

But, eight months before leaving the presidency, most of the initiatives are paralyzed, without major progress, while the opposition denounces the strengthening of illegal organizations.