Colombia drone attack kills three soldiers, ministry says

A drone attack on a Colombian military garrison in the Catatumbo region killed three soldiers, the defense ministry said Saturday, raising the earlier official toll from at least two dead.

Authorities had earlier reported at least two dead and five wounded in Friday's attack on the garrison in Ocana, in northeastern Colombia. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella blamed the National Liberation Army, or ELN.

A military source in the region told AFP that at least 20 drones loaded with explosives were used.

De la Espriella said on X that the state would use its force against the ELN for every police officer or soldier it killed. Defense Minister Jorge Mora toured the affected area on Saturday.

The defense ministry said military and police forces remained deployed to protect the population, bolster security, continue operations against ELN units and locate those responsible.

De la Espriella's government is conducting operations against armed groups in Catatumbo. Colombia is facing its worst violence in a decade and remains the world's largest cocaine producer. Since taking office less than one month ago, De la Espriella has increased bombings and ground operations against armed groups.

Colombia has also joined Shield of the Americas, a US-backed anti-cartel alliance of Latin American countries including Argentina, Ecuador and El Salvador. De la Espriella is due to receive US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Barranquilla next week.