US Edition
Drone attack kills 3 Colombian soldiers as rebel groups develop new lethal capabilities
The army blamed Comandos de la Frontera and said it will intensify operations after 115 drone attacks on troops in 2024, officials said.
- On Monday, Colombian rebels launched drone strikes in Ipiales, a municipality near the Ecuador border, killing three soldiers and injuring two others. The army attributed the attack to the group Comandos de la Frontera.
- Colombia's military faces a surge in drone attacks by groups linked to the Revolutionary Armed Forces, documenting 115 strikes against troops in 2024. Last year, President Gustavo Petro reported 58 soldiers and police officers were killed by these weapons.
- Rebel groups primarily use commercial photography drones fitted with explosives, according to military imagery. The army stated operations will intensify to locate and neutralize those responsible for Monday's strike.
- The Constitutional Court struck down an emergency decree intended to allocate $700 million for anti-drone equipment, ruling it lacked conditions to bypass congressional approval for tax increases.
- Ongoing security challenges across South American territories persist as the government combats drug traffickers and FARC splinter groups. The military remains focused on neutralizing threats near the Frontera region.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Violence on the border between Ecuador and Colombia escalated to critical levels on Monday, April 20, 2026. According to EFE, three Colombian Army soldiers were killed and two others injured following an attack with drones loaded with explosives in a rural area of the municipality of Ipiales, department of Nariño, from
The incident took place in Ipiales, where Colombian forces faced dissident armed groups.
Three soldiers of the Meridiano #3 Army Cavalry Group were killed in clashes with alleged members of Comandos de la Frontera, a structure of the National Coordination Bolivarian Army (Cneb). The events occurred in rural areas of Ipiales (Nariño), near the border with Ecuador. The soldiers were killed after being attacked by drones loaded with explosives. Two more uniforms were injured, who were evacuated to a medical center in Pasto (Nariño).
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