A drone attack on a Colombian military base in Santa Rosa del Sur killed three soldiers and wounded at least 16, the armed forces said Saturday. The strike hit the base in a small town in the San Lucas mountain foothills. Authorities have not identified who carried out the attack.
The area is rich in gold mines and has long been contested by the Gulf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and smaller groups formed by former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Video posted on social media showed smoke rising from the base after three explosions.
President Abelardo de la Espriella said on X that those behind the attack "will have nowhere to hide." He wrote, "Every attack against our soldiers strengthens our resolve to defend Colombia."
Violence has intensified in rural areas since de la Espriella, a conservative, took office in August. He cancelled peace talks with rebel groups and adopted a confrontational strategy including more air strikes, troop deployments and joint task forces to defend strategic assets. His government argues armed groups used ceasefires granted by the previous government to consolidate control over rural areas.
Last week, a military base in Tolima province was hit with missiles made from gas canisters, killing four civilians including a two-month-old baby. Police in the border city of Cucuta have been attacked several times with remotely activated bombs.
State forces and illegal armed groups carried out 34 attacks with bombs or explosives in Colombia in the four weeks to October 16, a 9 percent increase on last year's four-week average, according to ACLED, which monitors armed conflicts.