Colombian military operation in Guaviare leaves twenty rebels dead

On August 31, 2026, the Colombian government led by President Abelardo de la Espriella conducted its first major military offensive against armed groups. During a precision bombing operation in the Guaviare region in the southern part of the country, twenty rebels were killed, five were taken prisoner, and two minors were recovered by government forces.

The military operation was specifically targeted at a faction operating under the command of the country's most wanted rebel leader, known by the alias Ivan Mordisco. President de la Espriella confirmed the success of the mission via a video statement released on the social media platform X, categorizing the neutralized individuals as "narcoterrorists.

These air strikes represent the inaugural security measures taken by the new administration to combat organized armed factions that maintain control over various regions of Colombia. The government has prioritized these actions as part of its strategy to re-establish state authority, though no further court dates or immediate follow-up operations were detailed in the initial reports.