Bomb Attack in Colombia Leaves Two Soldiers Dead, 26 Wounded
A devastating bomb attack on a military base in Colombia has claimed the lives of at least two soldiers and left 26 others wounded, according to the army. The National Liberation Army (ELN), a left-wing guerrilla group, has been blamed for the attack, which has heightened tensions in the country.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, took place in the town of Puerto Jordan in the eastern Arauca department, on the border with Venezuela. The ELN has intensified its attacks on military targets since August, when it decided not to renew a ceasefire that had been in place since 2023.
President Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president, condemned the attack, stating that it "closes the peace process with blood." The defence ministry reported that two low-ranking soldiers died, five others were seriously injured, and 21 were hurt, although their lives are not in danger.
The head of the armed forces, General Luis Emilio Cardozo, said that the explosives were detonated in a dump truck. The ELN is the largest armed group still active in Colombia, and its refusal to make peace has been a major obstacle to achieving lasting peace in the country.
The government made peace with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016, ending the longest-running war in the Americas, which had claimed over 200,000 lives since the 1960s. However, holdout FARC splinter groups and the ELN have refused to make peace.
Colombia’s military intelligence service estimates the ELN to have around 5,800 members. The group is demanding that the government remove it from its list of organized armed groups and has accused the government of failing to meet the terms of agreements signed during previous rounds of peace talks.
The attack has dealt a significant blow to Colombia’s efforts to achieve peace and stability, and the government is likely to come under increased pressure to address the ELN’s demands and take action to bring the group to the negotiating table.
