There was a military operation in the Cauca region of Colombia that the army described as Trueno, with reports stating that 20 members believed to be dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were killed during the operation. The official briefing indicates that 17 individuals have been brought to justice or captured, nine guerrilla camps were dismantled, and 20 mined areas were cleared of hundreds of anti-personnel mines. The army issued the statement to communicate early results and ongoing efforts in the field.
According to the operation’s letter, actions by land, river, and air focus on disrupting the structures aligned with Carlos Patiio, Jaime Martednez, and Dagoberto Ramos, who are cited for a series of violent incidents that occurred recently, including the detonation of two explosive-laden vehicles that affected civilian populations. The briefing paints these figures as part of a broader objective to weaken the organizational network behind such attacks and to reduce civilian harm in the affected districts.
Trueno involves more than 200 Colombian soldiers and, as reported, there have been no battlefield casualties thus far. Forces have managed to regain control of Micay Canyon, a region historically associated with guerrilla activity, and they report dispersal of groups across the area. The operation also notes significant disruption to illegal crop cultivation across hundreds of hectares, signaling a multi-faceted approach to stability and security in the region.
The overarching aim of the mission, which employs helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, drones, and watercraft, is to identify and influence the main movement corridors used by the guerrilla groups. This includes scrutinizing the benefits they derive from illicit activities such as drug trafficking, extortion, and the unauthorized exploitation of mineral resources. The statement emphasizes that the effort seeks to reduce the capacity of these groups to operate and to protect civilians by cutting off their strategic routes and resources. The updates are part of an ongoing, multi-dimensional security effort that combines surveillance, ground operations, and interagency coordination to restore stability across the Cauca region.