3 soldiers killed in explosive attacks by FARC dissidents in Meta, Colombia

Three professional soldiers from the Colombian Army were killed and at least five other military personnel wounded in two separate attacks involving explosives in rural areas of Meta department early Monday, September 21, 2026.

According to an official statement from the Fuerza de Tarea Omega (Omega Task Force) of the Colombian Army, the deadliest incident occurred in the rural area of La Unión, in the municipality of La Macarena. Troops from the Rapid Deployment Force No. 12 (specifically the Rapid Deployment Battalion No. 35) triggered an area prepared with improvised explosive devices. Three soldiers were killed and four others (including a non-commissioned officer) were wounded.

The fallen soldiers were identified as Elkin Quinto Mosquera, Jesús Adrián Ramírez Carrillo, and Óscar David Monterroza Suárez.

In a second attack that same morning in the rural area of Puerto Chorizo, municipality of Vista Hermosa (Vistahermosa), troops from the Rapid Deployment Force No. 11 came under attack with an improvised explosive device followed by gunfire from long-range weapons. Two soldiers were wounded in that incident.

Army officials preliminarily attributed the La Macarena attack to the Ever Castro structure of the residual organized armed group Bloque Jorge Suárez Briceño, a FARC dissident faction linked to alias “Calarcá.”

The Omega Task Force Command strongly condemned the attacks and stated that military operations continue in southeastern Colombia. The wounded personnel are receiving medical care, with evacuations underway. Condolences were extended to the families of the fallen soldiers.

The incidents occurred amid ongoing operations against illegal armed groups in the region, which remains a hotspot for residual FARC dissident activity.