Colombia’s Ministry of Defense reported that two military operations against the guerrilla groups FARC and ELN have resulted in 21 kills and arrests.
Military operations were carried out early on Wednesday to retaliate last weeks’ attacks on Colombian infrastructure, according to the Ministry of Defense.
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The first operation took place in the eastern state Arauca, which borders Venezuela. Authorities claim to have killed eight and captured eight more during the action. The ELN guerrillas were supposedly part of the groups who have been attacking oil and road infrastructure in the region the last few weeks.
The second operation occurred in Meta in central Colombia, where five FARC guerrillas were neutralized.
Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon reported that four people were killed while one was wounded and another captured, resulting in an overall 21 casualties on the side of the guerrillas.
The military action was completed after weeks of information gathered by the National Police and the Ministry of Defense.
The FARC and the Colombian government have been involved in ongoing peace talks to end 50 years of armed conflict since November 2012, which are currently being held in Havana, Cuba.
Sources
- Operaciones de las Fuerzas Armadas dejan 21 terroristas neutralizados (Ministry of Defense)
