[CLASH] Four Colombian Security Personnel Killed in Week of Attacks by Suspected ELN, FARC-EMC

Five members of Colombia’s security forces lost their lives between December 20–27 in separate engagements with armed groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—Estado Mayor Central (FARC-EMC)—a splinter faction of the now largely disarmed FARC—according to the Ministry of Defense and Colombian National Police.

The first, a police officer identified as Superintendent Carlos Emel Cárdenas Galavis, was killed by an explosive device in El Zulia, Norte de Santander, while two other officers, identified as José Ariel López Sepúlveda and Fabián Alexis Soto Quintero, were wounded during the explosion. It is currently unknown who was behind the attack; however, some have speculated it was perpetrated by the ELN due to the group’s strong presence in the region, and the attack’s similarity to their frequently used “pistol plans” tactic of targeted attacks against vulnerable soldiers and police officers in rural areas of Colombia, conducted in order to undermine morale and destabilize the region. The condition of the two injured officers is currently unknown at this time. [1]

In a separate incident, a Colombian soldier identified as José Fernando Bueno Bueno was killed, and another soldier wounded, after Bueno stepped on an anti-personnel mine planted by the ELN in El Tapón, a hamlet in the rural municipality of Tadó, Chocó, on December 20. His death was announced by both the Ministry of Defense and the ELN’s Ogli Padilla Western War Front. In the ELN statement announcing the soldier’s death, the group claimed the Colombian military had recently intensified operations against the group’s front in Chocó in order to aid the “mobility and the positioning of paramilitarism,” a frequent claim levied by the ELN against the Colombian military. [2] [3] [4]

The third, a soldier identified as José Julián Yara Capera, was killed by a suspected member of the FARC-EMC’s Jorge Suárez Briceño Structure during a military operation, while another soldier was wounded, but is now in a stable condition. [5] [6]

The final soldier, identified as Keyler Alonso Ruiz Hernández, was killed during an engagement with an unidentified armed group on December 27 in the village of La Esmeralda, in Puerto Rondón, a municipality in Colombia’s northwesternmost department of Arauca, on the Venezuelan border. Three other soldiers were wounded in the engagement, according to the Colombian military, with all four casualties being members of the 18th Brigade’s 29th Ground Operations Battalion.

While the ELN maintains a significant presence in Arauca, it is unknown whether the armed group was responsible for the death of Ruiz Hernández. No statement has been released, and the ELN recently announced a Christmas ceasefire (set to expire on January 3, 2025). Although there has not yet been any indication that the ELN intends to extend the ceasefire, President Gustavo Petro stated in a post on X that “The end of the war is the national goal for 2025,” leading some to speculate that Petro’s government hopes to establish a continued ceasefire with the armed group in the future. [7] [8] [9]

1. Policía de Colombia (@PoliciaColombia), “¡Luto institucional! Condenamos el criminal atentado con artefacto explosivo en El Zulia (Norte de Santander) que segó la vida de nuestro subintendente Carlos Emel Cárdenas Galavis y dejó heridos a los señores patrulleros José Ariel López Sepúlveda y Fabián Alexis Soto Quintero. Toda nuestra solidaridad con sus respetadas familias, con el compromiso institucional de dar con el paradero de quienes perpetraron el hecho y llevarlos ante la justicia.”, X, December 20, 2024, post

2. Mindefensa (@mindefensa), “Lamentamos el asesinato del soldado profesional José Fernando Bueno Bueno, afectado por una mina antipersonal instalada por el ELN, en la vereda El Tapón, municipio de Tadó, Chocó. Otro soldado también quedó herido y está recibiendo atención médica especializada, donde su pronóstico es reservado.Rechazamos y denunciamos enérgicamente estos actos que violan los DD.HH e infringen el DIH, atentando contra la vida, la integridad y el bienestar de la población civil y de nuestros soldados.Enviamos un mensaje de condolencias y respaldo a la familia del soldado Bueno, quienes están recibiendo acompañamiento constante por parte del personal militar, incluyendo apoyo psicológico y guía espiritual.”, X, December 21, 2024, post

3. COMANDANTE FABIAN (@CMDT_FABIAN_), “Como resultado de la activación de un campo minado el día 20 de diciembre de 2024, en la vereda El Tapón del municipio de Tadó, departamento de Chocó. #ELN #60AÑOS”, X, December 21, 2024, post

4. Delegación ELN (@DelegacionEln), “Hoy fue liberado el suboficial Jonefer Sayas Gallardo, de quien se  informó su captura el pasado 19 de septiembre.  Su liberación se da en cumplimiento de lo planteado, y muy a pesar de los entorpecimientos  por parte de las @FuerzasMilCol #ELN”, X, October 23, 2024, post

5. General Luis Emilio Cardozo Santamaría (@COMANDANTE_EJC), “Lamentamos informar el asesinato de nuestro Soldado Profesional José Julián Yara Capera, quien se encontraba desarrollando operaciones militares por la seguridad de los habitantes de San José del Guaviare, fue asesinado con arma de fuego al parecer por integrantes de la comisión Jhon Linares, de la Estructura Jorge Suárez Briceño.Enviamos un saludo de condolencias a la familia , amigos y compañeros de nuestro soldado; su sacrificio jamás será olvidado.Producto de esto hecho también resultó afectado otro uniformado que, gracias a la atención proporcionada por el enfermero militar, se encuentra estable.El comando de @ftc_omegaha dispuesto un equipo psicosocial para brindar acompañamiento y apoyar a la familia en este difícil momento.”, X, December 25, 2024, post

6. "Alleged FARC Dissident Specialized in Explosives Who Would Be Involved in an Attack in the East Area of the Country Was Sent to Prison", Fiscalía General de la Nación, May 4, 2024, https://www.fiscalia.gov.co/colombia/en/2024/05/04/alleged-farc-dissident-specialized-in-explosives-who-would-be-involved-in-an-attack-in-the-east-area-of-the-country-was-sent-to-prison/

7. “COMUNICADO DE PRENSA”, Ejército Nacional de Colombia, December 27, 2024, https://www.ejercito.mil.co/comunicado-de-prensa-630036/

8. Manuel Rueda, “Colombia’s ELN rebels announce Christmas truce”, Associated Press, December 22, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/colombia-eln-peace-talks-christmas-cease-fire-927f09dc5980d505ebb03b9ee4453cd8

9. Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo), “El fin de la guerra, es el propósito nacional para el 2025.”, X, December 22, 2024, post