The Army has neutralized the threat of the indiscriminate use of explosive devices, apparently planted by the ELN in the department of Arauca.
Through the execution of military operations carried out by troops of the Eighteenth Brigade of the National Army, it was possible to neutralize a terrorist operation by finding and destroying an explosives hideout with five anti-personnel mines that were ready to be fired against the Military Forces.
These high-powered devices were in the village of San Pedro in the municipality of Fortul, where soldiers were on stability operations to the face the instability factors that are hitting this region. Military personnel, specialists of the Explosives and Demolitions Group EXDE, achieved the controlled destruction of this illegal hiding place that contained with anti-personnel mines, which would be used to indiscriminately hit the troops and put at high risk civilians.
During the first eight months of 2023, our troops have discovered and destroyed under controlled conditions 620 antipersonnel mines and/or explosive devices belonging to these organized armed groups in the department of Arauca. Operations such as these reaffirm the commitment of the National Army to provide security to the Araucanians; in the same way, military operations will continue to be carried out with the firm objective of protecting life, security and well-being in the Colombian Orinoquia.
Source: Press - Eighth Division of the National Army