Tragic drone attack in Catatumbo leaves one soldier dead and four injured
A recent attack carried out using unmanned technology has shaken the department of Norte de Santander. A sergeant of the Colombian National Army lost his life and four other soldiers were injured following an attack with explosives dropped from drones in the El Carmen area, in the Catatumbo region.
The military command reported that the uniformed personnel, belonging to the Special Energy and Road Battalion No. 10, were carrying out protection duties for the civilian population at the moment they were surprised by the impact of the devices. Second Sergeant Yuver Antonio Gutiérrez Torres was identified as the fatal victim of this violent act.
Escalation of violence with unmanned aerial vehicles
This incident adds to a worrying streak of attacks in the same area. Just last Thursday, another military base in the municipality of Convención was the target of a similar onslaught, where the launch of 43 explosive devices was reported, leaving two soldiers wounded. The use of drones modified for warfare purposes has become a recurring method in the armed conflict affecting this border region with Venezuela.
The implementation of unmanned aircraft equipped with explosives has become a common tactic within territorial disputes, claiming the lives of military personnel, police, and civilians in various parts of Colombian territory.
Context of the conflict in Catatumbo
The Catatumbo is the scene of an intense struggle for control of illicit economies. Authorities point out that two armed groups mainly operate in this area and maintain a constant dispute:
- The National Liberation Army (ELN).
- The 33rd Front of the dissidents of the former FARC.
The confrontation between these structures is mainly due to the control of coca leaf crops and the strategic routes used for drug trafficking, factors that keep security in the department of Norte de Santander in a state of constant vulnerability.
