Colombia Military Strikes Kill 19 Guerrillas in Amazon Offensive

Top Colombian military officials revealed on Tuesday that a major offensive against a drug-trafficking guerrilla group had resulted in the deaths of 19 fighters following airstrikes in the country’s Amazon region.

The strikes targeted a dissident ex-FARC splinter group and come amid growing criticism of President Gustavo Petro’s policies, particularly his perceived reluctance to take action against armed cocaine-trafficking groups, as well as US sanctions levied against his administration.

Admiral Francisco Cubides confirmed that the airstrikes took place “at dawn on November 10” and resulted in the deaths of “19 terrorists,” with one person captured and military equipment seized.

He added that the airstrikes were a response to an “imminent” rebel attack on military targets.

President Petro stated that he had ordered the “bombing and military dissolution” of the group, led by the country’s most wanted rebel, Ivan Mordisco, following the collapse of peace negotiations.

Mordisco is the leader of the Central General Staff (EMC), a faction that rejected the 2016 peace deal with the Colombian government. Since the FARC’s disarmament, the EMC has grown in strength, controlling remote areas and engaging in illicit activities such as drug trafficking, extortion, and illegal mining, according to experts.

In October, the United States imposed unprecedented sanctions on Colombia’s left-wing president, his wife, son, and a top aide, accusing them of facilitating drug cartels.

The US Treasury Department blacklisted President Petro, First Lady Veronica Alcocer, his eldest son Nicolás, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, barring them from entering the United States and freezing any US-based assets they hold.

However, the US government has not provided any evidence directly linking Petro to drug trafficking activities.

The sanctions list typically targets drug kingpins, terror operatives, and dictators involved in severe human rights violations.

This move marks the culmination of months of personal tension between President Petro and former US President Donald Trump, particularly over issues related to US deportations and strikes on suspected drug boats off the South American coast.

Since taking office in 2022, Petro has opted for dialogue with well-armed cocaine-producing groups, instead of resorting to full-scale military action. Critics argue that this approach has allowed cartels and guerrilla factions to flourish, seizing territory and producing record quantities of cocaine.

Although Petro is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election, the growing criticism of his handling of the drug trade may undermine his political allies in next year’s elections.