At least 19 individuals have lost their lives following an airstrike targeting a suspected rebel camp in Colombia’s Guaviare province, as reported by the nation’s military. The operation focused on a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), which is known for its involvement in drug trafficking.
President Gustavo Petro, who has previously shown hesitation in employing airstrikes against rebel formations, authorized this military action after peace negotiations with various Colombian armed groups deteriorated. The decision comes after sharp criticism from the Trump administration, which accused Petro of permitting the expansion of the drug trade—an allegation the Colombian leader has firmly rejected.
Government response to security threats
Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the airstrike received presidential approval after it was revealed that the group posed an “imminent threat” to both the civilian population and security forces. The targeted camp was reportedly associated with a dissident faction led by a commander known only as Iván Mordisco.
Iván Mordisco, once a member of the Farc, separated from the organization as it engaged in peace negotiations with the government, which he opposed. He has since emerged as the most prominent dissident leader in Colombia and is accused of various criminal activities, including illegal mining, extortion, and drug trafficking. Sánchez characterized Mordisco as “one of the most dangerous criminals and drug traffickers” currently in the country.
Impact on children and ongoing peace efforts
During the military operation, security forces apprehended three individuals and rescued three children who had been forcibly recruited by the group. Rights organizations have reported a troubling trend of increasing child recruitment by armed factions in Colombia, with cases of children as young as nine being kidnapped or lured away from their families with deceptive promises.
Since taking office, President Petro has initiated peace talks with several armed groups, striving to fulfill his campaign promise of achieving “total peace” in Colombia. However, negotiations with Mordisco’s faction collapsed after six months when he orchestrated a walkout. The Colombian government has since attributed a deadly explosive attack on a military facility in Cali in August to Mordisco’s group.
Petro previously described Mordisco as “a drug trafficker disguised as a revolutionary.”
The Colombian president faces mounting pressure from the United States to take effective action against drug trafficking. As the world’s largest producer of cocaine, Colombia is under scrutiny, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent alleging that Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish while failing to curb their operations. Recently, the U.S. government implemented financial sanctions against Petro.
In response, Petro has accused the U.S. of “murder” regarding airstrikes targeting vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific allegedly trafficking drugs. He reiterated his opposition to these U.S. actions on social media, stating that “the fight against drugs must be subordinated to the human rights of the Caribbean people,” and ordered a cessation of intelligence sharing with U.S. security agencies.