4 soldiers killed in drone bomb attack in Tibú municipality of Colombia

Four Colombian soldiers were killed and five others wounded when their unit was attacked with explosive devices dropped from unmanned aircraft in a rural area near the Venezuelan border, the army said.

The attack occurred on Thursday, November 12, in the village of Barco La Silla, Tibú municipality, Norte de Santander department. Troops from the 10th Land Operations Battalion were conducting stability operations when they were struck by twenty explosive devices launched from drones, according to a statement from the Vulcano Task Force Command.

The deceased were identified as Corporal Second José Luis Sánchez Berrío and professional soldiers Yair Jesús Méndez Bonza, Jeiner Pineda González, and Gerson Mauricio Plazas Amor. The five wounded soldiers received emergency medical attention and were evacuated with support from the Colombian Air Force.

The army categorically rejected the use of improvised explosive devices delivered by drones, stating such actions violate international humanitarian law. Authorities have attributed the attack to the ELN rebel group, though the area also has presence of FARC dissident factions.