In a significant military operation, Colombia’s armed forces conducted an air strike on a suspected rebel camp in the Guaviare province, resulting in the deaths of at least 19 individuals. The targeted camp belonged to a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a group notorious for its involvement in drug trafficking and other illicit activities. Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez hailed the operation as a decisive blow against ‘one of Colombia’s most dangerous criminals,’ referring to Iván Mordisco, the faction’s leader. Mordisco, a former Farc member who rejected the 2016 peace deal, has since emerged as a powerful figure in Colombia’s criminal underworld, engaging in illegal mining, extortion, and drug trafficking. The air strike marks a shift in strategy for Colombia’s left-wing President Gustavo Petro, who had previously been hesitant to authorize such operations. However, the breakdown of peace talks with several armed groups, including Mordisco’s faction, prompted Petro to greenlight the military offensive. The operation also led to the rescue of three children forcibly recruited by the group, highlighting the ongoing issue of child exploitation by armed factions. The strike comes amid escalating tensions between Colombia and the United States, with the Trump administration accusing Petro of failing to curb drug trafficking. In response, Petro has criticized U.S. military actions in the Caribbean and Pacific, which he claims violate human rights. The Colombian president has also suspended intelligence sharing with U.S. security agencies, further straining bilateral relations. This operation underscores the complex challenges facing Colombia as it seeks to balance peace negotiations with the need to combat organized crime and drug trafficking.