Does Colombia's harder fight against armed groups put civilians in the firing line?
Colombia's first airstrike under President Abelardo de la Espriella killed two National Liberation Army (ELN) members in Norte de Santander on 10 August, but injured three civilians and damaged several homes.
Source: ACLED · August 19, 2026 at 9:30 PM · AI-assisted report
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NORTE DE SANTANDER PROVINCE, 20 AUGUST 2026 —
Colombia's first airstrike under President Abelardo de la Espriella killed two National Liberation Army (ELN) members in Norte de Santander on 10 August, but injured three civilians and damaged several homes.
Market Impact
The operation broke with former president Gustavo Petro’s suspension of aerial campaigns and focus on peace talks with armed groups. ACLED data show Petro’s administration carried out just one airstrike—itself—in October 2023, more than a year after he took office. De la Espriella’s strike came four days into his term, foreshadowing a four-year strategy of military pressure on armed groups.
Analysts warn the new approach risks civilian harm because armed groups embed themselves within communities. In Norte de Santander, fighting between the ELN and the Estado Mayor Central Fuerzas Armadas (EMBF) pushed armed-group violence up 70% last year, displacing more than 73,000 people. Trends continued into 2026. International humanitarian law requires distinguishing combatants from civilians; failure to do so puts non-combatants in the crossfire.
The strike was followed by a US pledge to accept Colombia’s request for joint military operations on Colombian soil. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the agreement shortly after the raid.
Political analysts say disproportionate civilian harm could trigger backlash against De la Espriella, whose platform centred on security. Opposition lawmakers may file a motion of no confidence against Defense Minister Jorge Eduardo Mora or challenge US-Colombia military cooperation in court.
For business readers, the policy shift raises security risks for operations in northern Colombia and may delay reconstruction and investment in displaced communities.
Related: Abelardo de la Espriella · Norte de Santander province