URGENT UPDATE: Two Colombian soldiers have suffered severe injuries after being doused with gasoline and set on fire during a violent anti-drug operation in southeastern Colombia. The shocking incident unfolded in the northern Putumayo department on Wednesday as soldiers attempted to dismantle a cocaine laboratory.
The attack occurred when a group of civilians assaulted uniformed officers with fire, aiming to disrupt the destruction of the cocaine facility. According to the military, an officer and a soldier are currently receiving emergency treatment for extensive burns at a nearby hospital. The Colombian Army described the situation as “a significant escalation” in violence against security forces.
Colombia is grappling with its worst security crisis in a decade, fueled by criminal organizations profiting from drug trafficking, extortion, and illegal mining. The military has vowed to take action against those responsible for the attack, specifically targeting the Comandos de Frontera, a dissident group that rejected the 2016 peace accord with the FARC guerrilla group. Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the attack, stating on social media that the perpetrators “are neither peasants nor communities claiming their rights. They are criminals and narcos who attempted to murder our soldiers.”
In a heart-wrenching video shared by Sanchez, one of the injured soldiers can be seen being airlifted for urgent medical care, highlighting the human toll of this escalating conflict. This attack underscores the increasing frequency of assaults on military personnel in rural, guerrilla-controlled areas of Colombia.
The Comandos de Frontera group is currently under investigation, with its leader, Andres Rojas, also known as Arana, arrested in February during peace negotiations with the government. He faces serious charges related to cocaine trafficking to the United States, and authorities are seeking his extradition. Ecuadoran officials also hold the group accountable for a deadly attack in May that killed 11 soldiers during an operation against illegal mining.
The violence is not confined to Colombia; the military is also dealing with threats from the ELN group, which has been linked to a series of attacks on security forces. Peace talks with the ELN were suspended earlier this year after a wave of violence, including a recent bombing that injured a military dog.
This latest attack marks a critical moment in Colombia’s ongoing battle against drug-related violence, as the government struggles to regain control over regions plagued by criminal activity. As the situation develops, authorities are expected to intensify operations against these violent factions, emphasizing the urgency of restoring security to affected areas.
Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds and the Colombian military responds to this alarming escalation in violence.