Conflict & Security
Colombia president says forces killed 6 armed group members
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said Colombian forces killed six members of armed groups on Sunday in military operations days after he took office.
De la Espriella said troops killed four members of a splinter faction of the former FARC guerrilla group, including a mid-level commander, in an Amazonian town in the central department of Meta. He said the faction is led by Ivan Mordisco, described as Colombia's most wanted guerrilla commander.
The army also killed two members of the Gulf Clan, Colombia's main drug cartel, in the northwestern department of Antioquia, according to the president.
De la Espriella said the operations were among the first by his new government against illegal armed groups and called them “a clear and powerful message to all bandits.” He added: “There is nowhere for them to hide.”
The president took office on Friday after campaigning on confronting “narcoterrorism without truce” and ending peace talks with armed groups. He has pledged to intensify airstrikes against guerrillas and drug traffickers and to build mega-prisons similar to one in El Salvador.
On Saturday, two bombings in different parts of Colombia killed at least one police officer and wounded several people. Colombia's army said FARC guerrilla dissidents used explosives in one attack to destroy a highway tollbooth near Cali, injuring two security guards lightly.
Update
President Abelardo de la Espriella said four members of a former FARC splinter faction, including a mid-level commander, were killed in an Amazonian town in Meta department.
He said two members of the Gulf Clan were killed in Antioquia department.
The operations were described as among the first by De la Espriella's new government against illegal armed groups after his Friday inauguration.
The source adds context that two bombings on Saturday killed at least one police officer and wounded several people.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 August 2026 at 04:31:05 UTC.
Update
President Abelardo de la Espriella said the six members of armed groups were killed on Sunday.
He described the military operations as among the first between his new government and illegal groups.
De la Espriella said the operations sent “a clear and powerful message” to armed groups.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 August 2026 at 03:28:45 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The account of the six deaths comes from the president; no independent confirmation is supplied.
The exact town in Meta department is not named.
Responsibility for one of Saturday's bombing attacks is not identified in the supplied information.
Source
AFP news report published on .