Colombia – Cauca under fire. FARC dissidents launch wave of terror attacks

The department of Cauca is under fire as FARC dissidents unleashed a coordinated offensive across ten municipalities within the past 24 hours. The violent attacks, which included car bombs, drone strikes, and gunfire, have left at least 80 people injured, including four children, and resulted in the death of one Colombian soldier.

The most damaging attack occurred in the town of Piendamó, where an explosive device concealed in a motorcycle detonated in a densely populated area, injuring 48 people – 12 of them critically. Among the victims were civilians, police officers, and four minors. Suárez was also heavily affected, with two drone attacks injuring seven people, including a police officer and two children. In Cajibío, a series of six drone attacks and a direct assault on security forces left two police officers wounded.

In Patía, an explosive device targeted a military patrol, killing soldier Romario Roque Gutiérrez and injuring two of his comrades. Authorities confirmed that the attack occurred at approximately 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, when an improvised explosive device (IED) hidden in a motorcycle was detonated as soldiers approached. Security forces have arrested four individuals in connection with the attack, which has been attributed to the Carlos Patiño Front, a dissident faction of the FARC.

Read more: The City Paper Bogotá