Published Sunday, 25 October, 11:35 AM ET · Source: Colombian presidency via Infobae, El Colombiano, El Heraldo
Colombia’s president says a military bombing in the southwestern department of Cauca killed 10 members of the ELN, a guerrilla group, including two of its commanders. The strike happened before dawn on Thursday, 22 October 2026, and the government announced it on Sunday, 25 October.
For readers in the United States, the ELN (National Liberation Army) is a rebel group the US government lists as a foreign terrorist organisation. Colombia is also a major US security partner, so a shift in how Bogotá fights armed groups matters in Washington.
Key Facts
- Who. Colombia’s military and police against ten ELN guerrillas, the National Liberation Army, a rebel group.
- What. President Abelardo De la Espriella says the “Operation Ónix” bombing killed 10 ELN members.
- Where. Rural El Tambo, a municipality in Cauca, a department in Colombia’s southwest.
- When. Before dawn on Thursday, 22 October 2026; announced Sunday, 25 October.
- Why it matters. It is the government’s fifth bombing of armed groups, a tactic under political fire.
What Colombia’s President Announced
President Abelardo De la Espriella announced the result on Sunday in a post on X. He said troops and police carried out “Operation Ónix” in rural El Tambo and that ten ELN members died.
Among the dead, he said, were two of the group’s main leaders, known by the aliases “Marcos Pacífico” and “Ochenta” (also called “Murillo”).
He called it “the hardest blow in eight years” against the ELN, according to El Colombiano and El Heraldo, two Colombian daily newspapers. EFE, the Spanish news agency, quoted him saying the strike weakens the group’s chain of command and combat capacity.
Security forces seized seven rifles, a pistol and two grenades, the president said. They also found a camp able to hold about 25 fighters, according to EFE via Infobae, a Latin American news site.
A Contested Military Tactic
Colombian media count this as the fifth bombing the government has ordered against illegal armed groups. The tactic has drawn criticism because armed groups recruit children, who can be present in camps.
The debate began after the second bombing, in late August in the southern department of Guaviare. Colombian outlets report that three of the 10 people killed there were minors: two aged 15 and one aged 16.
A fourth bombing, on 10 October in the Catatumbo region of Norte de Santander near the Venezuelan border, killed a 16-year-old girl, according to La Silla Vacía, a Colombian news site. The reports we reviewed do not say whether any minors were among the dead in El Tambo.
In plain English
ELN: the National Liberation Army, a left-wing guerrilla group that has fought the Colombian state since the 1960s.
Cauca: a department (state-level region) in southwestern Colombia with routes toward the Pacific coast.
Bombing: Colombian officials use the word for military strikes on rebel camps.
What Is Not Known
The announcement came three days after the operation. Colombian media first reported nine dead on 22 October, and the president’s account raised the toll to ten.
The identities of the dead rest on the government’s account, and the reports we reviewed carry no reply from the ELN. Whether any minors died has not been stated.
What It Means for US Readers
The strike shows Bogotá leaning on air power against armed groups even as scrutiny over child recruits grows. How the government answers questions about civilian and minor casualties will shape its standing with partners, including the United States.
Travellers should check the US State Department’s current advisory for Cauca before planning any trip there. For wider background, see our Colombia coverage and our report on Colombia’s repeal of 15 mining districts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in El Tambo, Colombia?
President Abelardo De la Espriella says a military bombing killed 10 ELN members in rural El Tambo, Cauca. The strike took place before dawn on 22 October 2026.
Who are the ELN?
The ELN, or National Liberation Army, is a Colombian guerrilla group active since the 1960s. The US government lists it as a foreign terrorist organisation.
Which ELN leaders were killed?
The president named aliases “Marcos Pacífico” and “Ochenta,” also called “Murillo.” Identification of the dead rests on the government’s account.
Were minors among the dead?
The reports do not say. Earlier bombings drew criticism after minors died, including three in Guaviare in August.
Sources
Infobae (EFE) · El Colombiano · El Espectador, a Bogotá daily · El Heraldo · La FM, a Colombian radio network · statement by President Abelardo De la Espriella on X, as reported by these outlets
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief