Bogota Colombia — BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – Colombia Rebels launched drone strikes on Monday that killed three soldiers and wounded two others, officials said, as the use of these weapons has become increasingly common in the South American country.
Colombia’s military said the attack took place in Ipiales, a municipality in the southwest of the country near the border with Ecuador. It blamed a group called Comandos de la Frontera for the strike.
“Our operations in the area will continue and we will intensify our offensive to locate and neutralize those responsible,” the army said in a statement.
Colombia’s military faces drone attacks as it battles drug traffickers and rebel groups led by former members Revolutionary Armed Forces of ColombiaThe guerrilla group known as FARC who signed the peace agreement With the government in 2016.
Colombia’s Defense Ministry documents 115 drone attacks against its troops in 2024 President Gustavo Petro Said that last year 58 soldiers and police officers were killed by these weapons.
According to photos and footage shared by Colombia’s military, Colombian rebel groups are using mostly commercial drones to carry out their attacks, including photography drones equipped with explosives.
In December, Petro issued an economic emergency decree aimed at raising taxes, the government said $700 million needs to be allocated For equipment that will enable the Army to counter drone attacks.
The emergency decree was annulled by the Constitutional Court of Colombia, stating that it did not comply with the conditions required for the President to raise taxes without the approval of Congress.
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