Colombia Says 10 Guerrilla Fighters Killed, Including Two Senior Leaders, In Military Strike

Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella has announced that 10 members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), including two senior commanders, were killed in a military operation in the southwestern department of Cauca, describing it as the guerrilla group’s biggest setback in eight years.

The operation, code-named Operation Onyx, was carried out by Colombia’s military and police in a rural area of El Tambo on October 22. The president confirmed the final death toll on Sunday, October 25, identifying the two senior figures as Marcos Pacífico and Ochenta, also known as Murillo.

Both men belonged to the ELN’s José María Becerra bloc, part of its southwestern front. De la Espriella said their deaths had weakened the group’s chain of command, combat capabilities and ability to direct criminal activities across the region.

According to the president, Marcos Pacífico had spent more than two decades with the guerrilla organisation and was accused of involvement in 62 killings, recruiting minors and forcibly displacing around 500 people. He also allegedly directed operations across Cauca, Valle del Cauca and Nariño.

Authorities recovered seven rifles, a pistol and two grenades during the operation and discovered a camp capable of accommodating approximately 25 fighters, according to Colombian media reports.

The strike was the fifth bombing against illegal armed groups ordered by de la Espriella since taking office on August 7. However, the government's use of airstrikes has drawn scrutiny over the risk to minors allegedly recruited by armed groups. Earlier operations reportedly killed minors, including a 16-year-old girl in the Catatumbo region.

The latest operation comes as the government pursues a tougher security policy. De la Espriella ended peace negotiations initiated by his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, and pledged to dismantle armed groups operating across Colombia.

The ELN, which has been armed since 1964, remains a significant security challenge. Its senior leaders were recently sentenced in absentia to prison terms of 11 to 20 years over the forced recruitment of at least 60 minors.

Despite calling the strike decisive, the president acknowledged that the operation does not eliminate the ELN threat, warning that the organisation could regroup.