Colombia Military Claims Major Blow Against ELN Rebels
President reports killing of 10 ELN members, including two high-ranking leaders, in a recent operation.
President Abelardo de la Espriella announced Sunday that a recent military operation resulted in the deaths of at least 10 members of Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN), including two key leaders. He characterized the operation as the most significant blow against the guerrilla group in eight years.
The operation occurred on Thursday in a rural area of El Tambo, located in the Cauca department on Colombia's Pacific coast. Among those killed were individuals identified as “Marcos Pacífico” and “Ochenta” (or “Murillo”), senior leaders within the ELN's “José María Becerra” bloc of the southwestern front. The president stated that their deaths have disrupted the group's command structure and their capacity to carry out criminal activities.
President de la Espriella accused “Marcos Pacífico” of being responsible for the deaths of 62 people, the recruitment of minors, and the displacement of approximately 500 individuals during his 24 years with the guerrilla group. His influence reportedly spanned across units in the departments of Cauca, Valle del Cauca, and Nariño. The president also alleged that “Marcos Pacífico” orchestrated the unrest that fueled urban terrorism in 2019 and 2021.
While acknowledging the operation as a “decisive” strike, President de la Espriella cautioned that it does not signify the end of the threat posed by the ELN, noting the group's potential to regroup.
The ELN, an armed guerrilla group since 1964, recently saw its top leaders sentenced in absentia to prison terms ranging from 11 to 20 years for the forced recruitment of at least 60 minors. Arrest warrants have been issued for suspects including Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista, alias “Gabino,” the group's former top commander; Eliécer Herlindo Chamorro Acosta, alias “Antonio García,” the current top commander; Israel Ramírez Pineda, alias “Pablo Beltrán,” second-in-command; and Gustavo Aníbal Giraldo Quinchía, alias “Pablito,” third in command.
President de la Espriella, who took office on August 7, has ended peace negotiation talks initiated by his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, and has pledged to adopt a stringent approach toward armed groups.