In a tragic turn of events, Colombia’s human rights ombudswoman, Iris Marin, revealed on Saturday that six children were among those killed in a recent airstrike targeting the FARC-EMC rebel group in Guaviare province. The minors, reportedly forcibly recruited by the rebels, were allegedly used as “human shields” during the military operation. Marin urged both the Colombian government and rebel factions to adhere to international humanitarian law, emphasizing that children coerced into hostilities must be protected from military actions. The incident has reignited debates over the ethical implications of military strikes in conflict zones. Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez defended the operation, asserting that those involved in hostilities forfeit protection, regardless of age. This tragedy echoes a 2019 scandal where a former defense minister resigned after the government concealed the deaths of eight children in a similar airstrike. President Gustavo Petro, who initially suspended airstrikes to minimize civilian casualties, justified the recent operation as necessary to protect Colombian troops from an advancing rebel column. Despite his administration’s efforts to curb violence, the resumption of airstrikes underscores the ongoing struggle to control territories abandoned by the FARC following their 2016 peace agreement. Petro, a vocal critic of U.S. military actions in the Caribbean, argued that Colombia’s strikes target armed combatants posing direct threats to government forces and civilians.
Colombian officials say 6 children were killed in an airstrike against a rebel group this week
