At least 19 people have been killed in an air strike on a suspected rebel camp in Colombian province of Guaviare, according to the country's military.
The attack targeted a dissident faction of the Farc rebel group, which engages in drug trafficking.
Colombia's left-wing president, Gustavo Petro, had in the past been reluctant to use air strikes to hit rebel camps but following the breakdown of peace talks with several of Colombia's armed groups, he gave the green light for the military offensive.
The air strike comes after the Trump administration accused Petro of allowing the drugs trade to expand, which the Colombian president has denied.
Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez described the air strike as a decisive action against one of Colombia's most dangerous criminals,” stating that it addresses the imminent threat posed to the population and security forces.
The camp targeted was linked to a dissident group led by a commander known as Iván Mordisco, who is recognized as the most powerful dissident leader in Colombia.
Following this operation, three arrests were made, and three children were rescued from forced recruitment by the group, highlighting a disturbing trend of child recruitment by armed factions in the region.
Petro’s military action follows the collapsing peace negotiations with dissident groups and comes amid growing pressure from the U.S. to counter drug trafficking.
In response to these pressures, Petro has publicly opposed foreign military strikes and has emphasized human rights in the fight against drugs, noting the balance between security and humanitarian considerations.
