Colombian authorities have dealt a significant setback to the National Liberation Army (ELN) following a military operation that killed at least 10 guerrilla members, including two senior commanders, President Abelardo de la Espriella announced Sunday. The raid occurred Thursday in a rural area of El Tambo, located in the Cauca department within Colombia’s Pacific region, and targeted the “José María Becerra” bloc of the group’s southwestern front.
Two key ELN leaders, known by their pseudonyms “Marcos Pacífico” and “Ochenta” (also referred to as “Murillo”), were among those killed in the operation. President de la Espriella described the attack as the most impactful strike against the guerrilla group in the past eight years, asserting that it substantially disrupted the group’s command structure and operational capacity.
According to de la Espriella, “Marcos Pacífico” had been involved with the ELN for 24 years and was responsible for the deaths of 62 people. He was also accused of recruiting minors and displacing approximately 500 individuals across the departments of Cauca, Valle del Cauca, and Nariño. The president further alleged that Pacífico orchestrated illegal disturbances linked to urban violence in 2019 and 2021.
The Colombian military’s success comes amid ongoing violence in other rural areas of the country. In a separate incident reported Monday, at least six people were killed in Suaza municipality in the southwestern Huila department. Local media and human rights organization Corpades indicated that the attack may be connected to extortion activities, although details remain unclear. Videos circulated by social and media outlets showed a vehicle carrying five victims set on fire and a subsequent shootout that resulted in an additional death at the scene.
The events highlight the continued challenges Colombia faces from armed groups operating in remote regions, as security forces pursue efforts to dismantle guerrilla networks and curb associated criminal activities.