Police Station in Guamalito Destroyed by Drone Attacks; Community Reports ELN Takeover

The police substation in Guamalito, a district of El Carmen in Norte de Santander, has been completely destroyed following a series of attacks involving explosives and drone swarms. Mayor Jose Contreras confirmed that 21 police officers were evacuated by air on Wednesday after consecutive offensives. A drone attack on Friday caused over 80 percent destruction to the facility, and a subsequent attack on Monday left the infrastructure totally destroyed. Local residents have since reported that members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) have taken over the remains of the substation. Mayor Contreras stated that the community currently lacks a police presence and that the army has not yet arrived in the district. The mayor has contacted the Minister of Defense and the national government to request urgent support to recover the area and restore institutional control. This event occurred amid a broader trend of violence in Norte de Santander, with reports of a similar drone attack in Ocaña on the same Friday as the initial strike in Guamalito. El Tiempo noted that more than 20 attacks have occurred in El Carmen this year.