Colombian army announces killing of key guerrilla leader in bombing

Colombia’s air force on Thursday bombed a camp of the National Liberation Army (ELN), a guerrilla group, killing one of its most wanted leaders, Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo announced.

Regional official Carlos Feliz put the number of guerrillas killed at 22, but Holmes Trujillo only mentioned the deaths of the leader known as Mocho Tierra and three other “terrorists.”

The attack occurred in a rural area in Montecristo in the country’s north.

It targeted Mocho Tierra, who headed three ELN fronts, Holmes Trujillo said.

Mocho Tierra is believed to have planned attacks against police and soldiers, according to broadcaster Caracol. He also allegedly plotted routes for the transport of cocaine, which the ELN traffics.

Holmes Trujillo said Mocho Tierra handled income from drug trafficking and illegal mining that earned the guerrillas about 4 billion pesos (1 million dollars) a month.

The ELN is estimated to have more than 2,000 fighters.

The government signed a peace deal with the much bigger guerrilla group FARC in 2016.

But President Ivan Duque, a conservative, has refused to continue earlier negotiations with the ELN unless it unilaterally stops all violent activity.

Read also: Italy presents 55-billion-euro plan to boost Covid-19-struck economy

The ELN declared a unilateral ceasefire for April because of the Covid-19 pandemic but did not extend it. It has reportedly attacked oil pipelines, and also fought with the army and with FARC dissidents in the south-western Cauca region.

The ELN claimed responsibility for the bombing of a Bogota police academy that left 22 students dead in January 2019, dashing hopes that negotiations could be resumed in the near future. (dpa)