September 22, 2024, 10:36 AM
September 22, 2024, 10:36 AM
An armored vehicle of the Colombian Army was attacked with explosives this Saturday (21.09.2024) by guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN), in an action recorded in the department of Arauca, in eastern Colombia.
The Eighth Army Division reported on social media that the attack against one of the armored vehicles of the 18th Cavalry Group Reveiz Pizarro occurred on the road between the towns of Tame and Betoyes.
The information added that there was no news about the troops that were going to a rural area where the guerrillas drove a vehicle across the road after making the passengers get off.
This new ELN attack occurs four days after the attack against the Puerto Jordán military base in Arauca, which left three soldiers dead and 26 more injured.
Following the terrorist action, the ombudsman, Iris Marín, said on her X account that “the attack with explosives against the Army in Arauca was unacceptable.”
ELN claims responsibility for attack in Arauca
On Friday, September 20, the ELN claimed responsibility for the attack on a military base in Puerto Jordán, which led the government to suspend peace talks with the group.
The Eastern War Front, which is the most active and numerous of the ELN, said in a statement that last Tuesday, September 17, “they attacked the military canton of the Quirón Task Force, located in Puerto Jordán de Arauquita, Arauca, a military fort located in the center of the department was attacked with their own artillery (sic).”
The Colombian government confirmed on Wednesday, September 18, that peace talks with the ELN “are suspended” following the attack on the military base.
Regarding the talks, the ELN commander, alias ‘Antonio García’, assured that the peace process with the Colombian government can continue, despite the fact that there is no ceasefire.
The guerrilla leader recalled that the one-year ceasefire, which expired on August 3, “could not be extended and in the context of seeking solutions, the Minister of Defense and the Commander of the Armed Forces ordered the resumption of offensive operations against the ELN.”
