Colombia's military has killed Hernando Forero Mosquera, an alleged leader of a dissident Farc rebel faction, in an operation days after President Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn into office. Forero, also known as "El Ruso," was identified by military intelligence as a leader of Frente 28, one of several groups that emerged after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) signed a peace deal with the government in 2016.
These dissident groups, primarily involved in cocaine trafficking and illegal mining, have been linked to a recent increase in violence across the country. De la Espriella has signaled a shift in strategy from his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, who pursued a "total peace" policy focused on negotiation. Petro's attempts at dialogue were hampered by repeated ceasefire violations by armed groups.
De la Espriella's more confrontational approach has already faced defiance. Shortly after his inauguration, two explosive devices detonated: a car bomb injured two security guards at a tollbooth in Cauca province, and a drone-dropped explosive killed a police officer in Cesar province.
In response to the military operation that killed Forero and three other alleged members of his faction in Meta province, de la Espriella praised the military. In a separate operation in Antioquia province, soldiers also reportedly killed two members of the Gulf Clan criminal group.
The new Colombian administration has secured support from the United States, including a commitment of $1 billion in security assistance from the U.S. State Department. Colombia has also been welcomed into the "Shield of the Americas," a U.S.-led alliance of Western Hemisphere nations focused on combating drug trafficking and transnational crime.