Drone strike kills three soldiers in Ocaña, Colombia, blamed on ELN

An explosive drone strike followed by a ground clash inside a military compound in Ocaña, a municipality in Colombia’s Norte de Santander department bordering Venezuela, left at least three soldiers dead and four wounded, the Colombian army reported on Saturday. The attack, which occurred late on Friday, involved bombs dropped from unmanned aerial vehicles and was succeeded by an armed confrontation within the base. Local authorities identified the National Liberation Army (ELN), a long‑standing rebel group, as the perpetrator of the assault.

The incident marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Colombian armed forces and the ELN, which has intensified in the country’s northeastern border regions. Military officials said two soldiers died on site while a third succumbed to injuries after receiving medical care. The army has launched an investigation and pledged to reinforce security measures at vulnerable installations, while urging continued cooperation from regional authorities to prevent further attacks.