Colombian security forces killed six alleged members of armed groups on Sunday in the first military offensives since Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as president on Friday and vowed an uncompromising fight against crime.
Four of those killed, including suspected FARC dissident leader Hernando Forero Mosquera, belonged to a splinter faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in Meta province, while two alleged Gulf Clan members died in a separate operation in Antioquia, de la Espriella said. Forero led the Frente 28 dissident faction, authorities stated.
The operations followed two weekend bombings that marred the president's first day in office. Meanwhile, neighbouring Panama reinforced security along its 266-kilometre border with Colombia in the Darien Gap, with border chief Larry Solis saying the deployment aims to shut down criminal groups. Panama is also wrapping up multinational military exercises to protect its canal, with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expected to attend the closing ceremony.