ELN guerrillas used explosives-laden drones to strike an army base in northern Colombia, killing seven troops and wounding dozens amid rising security tensions.
At least seven Colombian soldiers were killed and 30 others wounded after a guerrilla group launched a coordinated drone and explosives attack on a military base in northern Colombia, the country’s armed forces said Thursday December 18, 2025.
The assault targeted Military Base 27 in the Department of Cesar and was attributed to the National Liberation Army, or ELN, a leftist guerrilla group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
In a statement, the Colombian Army said attackers used drones fitted with improvised explosive devices and fired additional unconventional explosives at the base. The strike occurred late in the day, when many soldiers were resting after training exercises.
Local reports said several of the troops were in hammocks when the attack began, contributing to the high number of casualties.
The wounded were evacuated to nearby medical facilities, while military units moved quickly to secure the area and launch follow-up operations against the attackers, the Army said. Authorities have not disclosed whether any suspects were captured.
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Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez Suárez condemned the attack, calling it a stark reminder of the growing threat posed by armed groups using new technologies.
“This threat must be dismantled,” Sánchez said in a statement. “Failure to do so puts the population at serious risk.” He warned that while Colombia’s armed forces have intercepted the vast majority of attempted drone attacks, their use by illegal groups has expanded rapidly and now poses a serious challenge to national security.
The soldiers killed were identified as Jaime Alejandro Cárdenas Ramírez, Mateo Pino Pulgarín, Juan David Pérez Vides, Kevin Andrés Méndez Torres, Jhon Fredy Moreno Sierra, Brandon Daniel Valderrama Martínez, and Jorge Mario Orozco Díaz.
The attack came shortly after the ELN declared a nationwide “armed strike,” urging civilians to halt travel and business activity in areas under its influence. The group said the move was a protest against what it described as threats of foreign intervention by the United States.
During the strike, authorities reported multiple acts of violence against infrastructure and security forces, as well as widespread disruptions to daily life in affected regions.
Colombia has struggled to contain renewed violence from armed groups despite ongoing efforts to negotiate peace and reduce decades-long internal conflict. The ELN remains active in several parts of the country, particularly near border regions and strategic transport corridors.
Drone-based attacks, once rare in Colombia, have become increasingly common as armed groups adapt tactics seen in conflicts elsewhere, raising concerns among security officials and civilians alike.
Military and government officials said more details would be released as the investigation continues, while President Gustavo Petro’s administration faces mounting pressure to address the evolving security threat and protect both civilians and troops.
