ELN Drone Attack Kills at Least Three Soldiers at Colombian Military Base

At least three Colombian soldiers were killed after a drone strike and subsequent ground assault struck a military compound, authorities said on Saturday, blaming the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) for the attack.

The assault marks one of the most brazen uses of drone warfare by the guerrilla group and highlights the evolving tactics in Colombia’s intractable internal conflict.

According to a defense ministry statement, the attack began when an explosives-laden drone detonated inside the base, followed immediately by a ground infiltration by armed fighters. The clash that ensued left three soldiers dead and several others wounded.

“This is a clear act of terrorism that demonstrates the ELN’s disregard for human life and its refusal to pursue a peaceful resolution,” a military spokesperson said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Officials have not disclosed the exact location of the compound, citing operational security, though it is believed to be in a rural area where the ELN maintains a strong presence. The targeted unit and the full extent of casualties remain under wraps as the military secures the site.

Use of drones by Colombia’s illegal armed groups has surged in recent years. Rebel factions and drug cartels increasingly turn to commercial drone technology to deliver explosives or conduct surveillance, posing new challenges for a military accustomed to conventional ground combat. Saturday’s attack is among the deadliest such drone strikes on security forces to date.

Security analysts say the incident could strain already fragile peace negotiations between the government of President Gustavo Petro and the ELN. Talks, which resumed in 2022, have been marred by frequent ceasefire violations and mutual distrust. Following the assault, opposition politicians demanded a tougher military stance and questioned whether the government’s “total peace” policy emboldened the rebels.

The defense ministry vowed to reinforce security at military installations and launch an operation to dismantle the ELN cells responsible. “There will be no impunity for those who attack our forces,” the ministry pledged in a brief statement. It remains unclear whether the new wave of hostility will formally suspend the peace dialogue.

The ELN has not immediately commented on the incident. The group, founded in 1964, remains the largest active guerrilla army in Colombia after the FARC’s demobilization, and is designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.

The latest deaths add to a grim toll in a conflict that has killed more than 450,000 people over six decades. Human rights organizations worry that drone proliferation could escalate civilian casualties and further destabilize remote communities caught between warring factions.