Colombian Forces Launch Aerial Assault On Rebel Jungle Stronghold In Catatumbo

An official military video shows a joint Colombian Armed Forces operation carried out in the rural area of Tibú in the Catatumbo region, combining night-vision combat footage with daytime drone imagery.

The footage opens with green-tinted night-vision views showing a helicopter flying low over dense jungle terrain as gunfire erupts. Bright flashes and explosions spread across the forest, sending smoke and dust rising from multiple impact zones. Tracer fire and blasts illuminate the hills and riverbanks during the assault, with the command “Fire!” heard in the recording.

The video then switches to daytime aerial drone footage showing the aftermath of the operation. Burned ground, destroyed camp structures, and fallen trees are visible, while smoke continues to rise across cleared jungle paths near the Catatumbo River corridor.

According to the information provided, the operation was described as an “Interdicción Aérea – Asalto Directo” targeting a security commission of the ELN’s Frente Luis Enrique León Guerra, led by alias Sucre. The strike hit fortified camps containing explosives intended for drones and materials used for anti-personnel mines.

Officials stated the unit was responsible for protecting the group’s central command and blocking military advances along river-based criminal routes.

The Colombian Army and joint forces, including the Air Force and Fiscalía, reported that seven members of the armed group were killed during the combat operation. It was also described as the third major aerial operation in the Catatumbo region in 2026.