The Colombian Armed Forces have reported the death of at least two soldiers and five others injured as a result of a drone attack carried out in the early hours of Sunday and attributed to the National Liberation Army (ELN) in the municipality of San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, in the west of the country.
According to the Army detailed in a communiqué, the aggression took place in an area located between Juntas de Tamaná and La Italia, where the units of the No. 25 Ground Operations Battalion were the object of "indiscriminate and constant attacks" by means of unmanned aerial vehicles loaded with explosives.
After detecting the offensive, the Colombian Air Force activated an operation to support the extraction of the affected uniformed personnel and their evacuation to medical centers, so that they could receive urgent health care.
From the military institution they have condemned this "act of violence", which "constitutes a violation of Human Rights and an infringement of International Law, by attacking the life and integrity of the men of the corps, who were fulfilling their constitutional duty to guarantee security and sovereignty in the national territory".
The communiqué adds that "the institution regrets the events that occurred and extends its condolences to the family of our two professional soldiers, heroes of the homeland; likewise, and as coordination measures, after becoming aware of the regrettable events, institutional protocols and comprehensive support for their family were activated, providing permanent support in this difficult situation".
The military forces have likewise reiterated their "commitment to the protection of the civilian population and the restoration of public order in the department", and have advanced that they will maintain the deployment of "capabilities" to "counteract the actions of this criminal group".
This attack adds to other episodes of violence recorded during the weekend in Colombia. In Planadas, Tolima, an attack left four civilians dead, including a baby, and 17 people injured, in addition to several additional attacks with explosives and drones in different regions of the country.