President De la Espriella Backs Military Operation After Three Minors Killed in Guaviare Bombing

President Abelardo de la Espriella expressed his full support for military operations against narcoterrorist groups following a bombing in rural El Retorno, Guaviare, that left three minors dead. The operation, which took place on Thursday, August 27, targeted the dissident group of alias Calarcá Córdoba and resulted in ten total deaths. The National Institute of Legal Medicine identified nine of the victims, including three minors aged 15 and 16. A tenth body remains unidentified, and authorities are investigating if it belongs to alias Urías Perdomo, a trusted associate of Calarcá.

In a statement on X, President De la Espriella asserted that the military acted according to the Constitution and the law. He attributed the deaths of the minors to armed groups that have used children as combatants or human shields for decades, stating that these organizations must pay for crimes that violate Humanitarian Law. The Ministry of Defense also stated that the operation followed all legal standards for strategic aerial attacks. The Ministry further characterized the recruitment of minors as a war crime and a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law.

Reporting on the event differed in focus based on political lean. A center left source emphasized that the results of the operation are under scrutiny by the Congress and human rights organizations. Meanwhile, a center right source focused on the Ministry of Defense's efforts to coordinate with the Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutor General's Office to strengthen the prosecution of those responsible for child recruitment.