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28 December 2024

Ludwig Bauer

[CLASH] Three Colombian Soldiers Killed In Combat Against ELN, FARC-EMC, Clan del Golfo

Three soldiers lost their lives during the course of three separate engagements with members of various armed groups across Colombia, the army announced on December 15. The first soldier, identified as Carlos Andrés Lasso Quiñones, was killed while his unit was conducting an offensive operation against the Juan Fernando Porras Martínez Front, part of the National Liberation Army (ELN), in El Zulia, a municipality on the Venezuelan border in Colombia’s northeastern Norte de Santander department. The Colombian military nonetheless reported the death of one ELN fighter during the engagement and the seizure of “war materiel and equipment”.

[CLASH]


The second soldier, identified as Romin Lozano Tapiero, from Ground Operations Battalion No. 14, was killed during ‘Operation Cordillera’ against the Franco Benavides structure, part of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – Estado Mayor Central (FARC-EMC), a splinter faction of the now largely disarmed FARC, in La Llanada, Nariño. [4] In spite of his death, the Colombian military claimed the operation ultimately “impacted” the Franco Benavides structure, citing military intelligence reports, but failed to disclose any details, adding that units in Nariño would continue military operations against armed groups in the region. [2]



 The third soldier, identified as Ronald Jaramillo Mendoza, was killed in action during an engagement with the Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC), commonly known as the Clan del Golfo, in Ituango, Antioquia. Following his killing, a figure believed to be the leader of the AGC’s presence in the region identified by the alias “Maicol” was “neutralized” by Colombian security forces, while war materiel and communications equipment were seized. [3]


The soldiers’ killings come amid heightened tensions between the Colombian government and transnational armed actors in the country, particularly the ELN following the expiration of a negotiated ceasefire on August 7, 2024. It collapsed after the Colombian government began pursuing peace talks with the group’s Nariño Front without the approval of the national peace dialogue. [5] [6] Since then, numerous casualties have been reported by both the government and ELN. Despite these losses, the ELN’s national dialogue agreed to meet with Colombia’s peace delegation in Caracas, Venezuela between November 19–25. However, a ceasefire failed to materialize, and tensions continue to mount. [7]


Sources


  1. “COMUNICADO DE PRENSA”, Ejército Nacional de Colombia, December 15, 2024, https://www.ejercito.mil.co/comunicado-de-prensa-629874/

  2. “COMUNICADO DE PRENSA”, Ejército Nacional de Colombia, December 15, 2024, https://www.ejercito.mil.co/comunicado-de-prensa-629873/

  3. General Luis Emilio Cardozo Santamaría (@COMANDANTE_EJC), “#HonorYGloriaPorSiempre | Lamento profundamente el asesinato de tres de nuestros soldados que se encontraban desarrollando operaciones militares en diferentes partes del país por la seguridad y tranquilidad de los colombianos.Debo informar que en medio de combates probablemente contra integrantes de la estructura residual Franco Benavides, en el departamento de #Nariño, fue asesinado nuestro soldado Romin Lozano Tapiero, se sabe por información de inteligencia militar de la afectación de dos integrantes de esta estructura*En otra operación militar desarrollada en el municipio de El Zulia, Norte de Santander, contra el GAO ELN, fue asesinado el soldado Carlos Andrés Lasso Quiñones, en esta operación se neutralizó a uno de sus integrantes y se logró incautar material de guerra y comunicaciones, y en una última operación militar realizada en la vereda San Luis, en el municipio de Ituango, Antioquia, contra el Clan del Golfo, fue asesinado el soldado Ronald Jaramillo Mendoza.En estos combates al parecer fue neutralizado alias Maicol cabecilla de zona, así como la incautación de material de guerra y comunicaciones.En nombre del Ejército, envío las más sentidas condolencias a las familias, amigos y compañeros de nuestros valerosos y aguerridos hombres, quienes ofrendaron su vida en el cumplimiento de la misión.Su sacrificio jamás será olvidado.Así mismo, desde el Comando del @COL_EJERCITO, a través de la Dirección de Familia de @ejercito_COPER, se ha dispuesto de un equipo interdisciplinario para brindarles a sus familiares el acompañamiento y apoyarlos en este difícil momento.Paz en sus tumbas 🕊️.”, X, December 15, 2024, post.

  4. “Alleged leader of the FARC dissidents who would be involved in terrorist attacks in Nariño was sent to prison”, Fiscalía General de la Nación, November 4, 2024, https://www.fiscalia.gov.co/colombia/en/2024/11/04/alleged-leader-of-the-farc-dissidents-who-would-be-involved-in-terrorist-attacks-in-narino-was-sent-to-prison/

  5. Alsema, Adriaan. “Colombia resumes military operations against ELN guerrillas”, Colombia Reports, August 7, 2024, https://colombiareports.com/colombia-resumes-military-operations-against-eln-guerrillas/

  6. “La ‘Supuesta Disidencia’ de Nariño”, Insurrección 947, Dirección Nacional Ejército de Liberación Nacional, May 8, 2024, 10-11, https://eln-voces.net/?p=11187#flipbook-df_11190/11/

  7. “Comunicado Conjunto N°29 Mesa de Diálogos entre el Gobierno nacional y Ejército de Liberación Nacional - ELN”, Alta Consejería para la Paz, November 11, 2024, https://www.altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co/prensa/Paginas/Comunicado-Conjunto-N29.aspx

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