Nine killed in a new bombing of the Colombian government against guerrillas

Nove alleged guerrilla members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) died today in a new bombing of the Colombian Government in the rural area of El Tambo, in the department of Cauca (southeast).

“ In a strategic bombing operation of our Military Forces in the rural area of El Tambo, Cauca, nine members of the narco-terrorist group ELN were killed,” said Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, in his social network account X.

The Colombian President specified that among the dead is Marcos Pacific, who was a “highly relevant target and one of the leading leaders” of the ELN, although he indicated that his identity “is pending typing confirmation”.

“ This criminal was the second leader and military leader of the Southwest Front of the ELN, maximum head of the José María Becerra Front and responsible for directing three narco-terrorist fronts operating in Cauca, Nariñoe Valle do Cauca, three provinces of the southwest ", highlighted De la Espriella.

According to the president, the Pacific allies Marcos was involved in kidnappings and attacks against the Public Force in the cities of Cali and Buenaventura in the southwest of the country.

De la Espriella published a video on social network X, in which one can see the conversation he had this morning with Defense Minister General Eduardo Mora, who asked for permission to “start the strategic attack on the target” in Cauca. “This result represents a striking blow to the military structure, territorial command and urban networks of ELN in the Colombian Pacific,” the agent said.

This is the fifth bombardment against illegal armed groups ordered by the Colombian Government, at a time of controversy over the use of this military tactic for the possibility that it has to affect recruited children and adolescents.

The controversy began after the second bombing carried out at the end of August in the ninth department of Guaviare (center), in which three of the 10 killed were under the age of 15 and one was 16.

Earlier this month, the fourth bombing in the Catatumbo region resulted in the death of a 16 - year - old teenager.

“ Let it be clear to all narcoterrorists: there will not be a single corner of Colombia where they can hide from the legitimate force of the state. We will go after them without rest, dismantle their structures and end their ability to sow terror among Colombians,” said De la Espriella.