A man suspected of leading a dissident faction of a left‑wing rebel group has been killed in a military operation in central Colombia, officials say.
The operation, carried out over the weekend and part of a nationwide crackdown ordered by President Abelardo de la Espriella, killed Hernando Forero Mosquera—known as “El Ruso”—and five other alleged members of armed groups.
De la Espriella, sworn in on Friday, said that the killing sent “a clear and powerful message to all bandits that there is nowhere for them to hide”. He vowed to tackle “narco‑terrorism” head‑on, even by launching air strikes.
Forero was identified by military intelligence as the leader of the Frente 28 faction, one of a handful of groups that splintered away from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) after the 2016 peace deal. While some former FARC members accepted the accord, others, like Forero, refused to disarm and have since been involved in cocaine trafficking and illegal mining.
The operation also saw the capture of three more alleged members of the dissident group in Meta province, and two members of the Gulf Clan in Antioquia were killed in a separate offensive.
The president’s campaign was built on a promise to reject negotiations in favour of a hard‑line approach—a strategy that has already drawn criticism from the suspended forces. In contrast, former President Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” policy had been abandoned after negotiating parties repeatedly broke cease‑fires.
The United States has already pledged a billion dollars in security assistance and welcomed Colombia into the “Shield of the Americas,” a coalition aimed at combating transnational drug trafficking. President Donald Trump personally endorsed the new Colombian leader, signalling a continued US‑Colombian partnership that aims to curb the resurgence of violence.
The death of Forero and the resultant shift in Colombia’s security policy may set a new tone for the country’s ongoing struggle between peace initiatives and militaristic repression. Local security forces remain on high alert following attacks in Cauca and Cesar provinces, where a car bomb and a drone‑deployed explosive injured and killed civilians, respectively.
Key Takeaway
Colombia’s new presidency signals a pivot from negotiation to force, aligning the country with the US in a joint effort to dismantle armed groups that threaten stability.
