The Colombian armed forces reported on Tuesday about an offensive operation against a leftist guerrilla group: as a result of airstrikes in the Amazon region, 19 militants were killed, LETA reports citing AFP.
The strikes were carried out against a group that split from the former leftist guerrilla organization "Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia" (FARC).
The operation took place amid pre-election criticism of Colombian President — leftist politician Gustavo Petro — and U.S. sanctions imposed for his unwillingness to actively combat armed guerrilla groups involved in cocaine trafficking.
Admiral Francisco Cubides reported that the airstrikes were conducted "at dawn on November 10" and resulted in the "deaths of 19 terrorists," with one person detained and military equipment seized. According to him, the strikes were a response to a "threatening" attack by guerrillas on military facilities.
Petro stated that he ordered the "bombing and military disarmament" of the group after peace negotiations with it failed. This group is led by Colombia's most wanted guerrilla known as Ivan Mordisco.
Mordisco heads the so-called "Central General Staff" (EMC) — a group that rejected the 2016 peace agreement between the rebels and the Colombian government.
After the disarmament of FARC, EMC strengthened itself by using remote areas of the country for drug trafficking, extortion, and illegal mining.
In October, the U.S. imposed unprecedented sanctions against Petro, his wife, son, and aide, accusing them of failing to curb illegal drug trade. The sanctions include a travel ban to the U.S. and the freezing of all assets within the U.S.
