In compliance with the Joint Strategic Campaign Plan Ayacucho Plus - Appendix Juan José Rondon, the ground and strategic attack operation was carried out by units with special resources, under the principles of International Humanitarian Law and respect for Human Rights.
Within the framework of joint military operations, the Military Forces, in coordination with the National Police, conducted an operation against structures of the Organized Armed Group ELN in the Catatumbo region, with the purpose of hitting its armed capacity and protecting the inhabitants.
In the rural area of the municipalities of Tibú and El Tarra, in the department of Norte de Santander, the ground and air operation managed to neutralize eight members of the Northeastern War Front of the Organized Armed Group ELN, seven of whom died in the framework of military operations and one was arrested. The result was obtained through the use of differential resources, which included the ground deployment of the troops of Colombian National Army and the National Police, as well as the air support of the Colombian Aerospace Force.
Abundant war items were in the same way found at the site, including 15 rifles, five handguns, more than 2,000 cartridges, 205 kilos of explosives, the inhibition and destruction of drones, and 202 grenades adapted for use in unmanned aircraft.
According to military intelligence information, it has been determined that there would be approximately 15 more losses of members of this structure, which would be linked to crimes such as forced displacement, extortion, kidnapping, homicides, illegal activities and terrorist acts, in the same way, activities of forced recruitment of children and adolescents.
Through this result, the logistical and armed system of this illegal group is directly hit, weakening its support networks for drug trafficking and significantly limiting its ability to carry out violent acts against the inhabitants. The work of the Military Forces in the sector, contributes to the progressive recovery of the institutional resources of the area, in support of the State's efforts aimed at generating conditions that led the voluntary, gradual and safe return of the indigenous and peasant communities of the sector, in coordination with the civil authorities.
The military forces will continue to carry out powerful operations with the purpose of weakening the criminal acts of these illegal groups, thus maintaining the security conditions, and territorial control in the Nation.
Source: Strategic Communications General Command of the military forces
