[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”.

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…” 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