Colombia: ELN drone attack in Norte de Santander, one soldier killed and five wounded

The Colombian armed group ELN carried out an ambush with drones against an Armed Forces unit resulting in the death of one soldier and the wounding of five others.

This was reported in an army statement which specifies that the action was directed against "a patrol carrying out security tasks on a road in the municipality of Ábrego, in the department of Norte de Santander" through "the use of remotely piloted aircraft equipped with explosive devices".

"During the attack, more than nine explosive devices were thrown against the military unit, also damaging an armored vehicle used by troops carrying out security and protection tasks for the civilian population passing through this road corridor", the note continues, attributing the action "to members of the Gao Eln, Carlos Armando Cacua Guerrero Front".

According to testimonies published on social media, the attack on the soldiers then continued at the medical center in the town of Abrego where the wounded soldiers had been transported and was repelled only thanks to the intervention of reinforcements.

President Abelardo de la Espriella stated on social media that "this attack against our heroes will cost the ELN narco-terrorists dearly" reiterating that "the order to the public forces is clear: without respite and with determination, we must put an end to this cancer".