In brief
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced an airstrike against FARC dissidents in the northeastern Catatumbo region that left four militants dead and six others captured, including the leader “Barba Chivo.” The operation, code‑named Noah, seized weapons, destroyed three encampments, and was part of a broader campaign against lingering FARC influence along the Venezuelan border. The president pledged to continue targeting equivalent criminal organizations until their leadership is neutralized.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said on November 10 that a combined force of the National Army and the Colombian Air Force had launched an airstrike in the rural area of Tibu, Norte de Santander, a border town in the Catatumbo region. The assault killed four members of a dissident Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) camp and brought six additional militants into custody, according to a statement the president posted on the social‑media platform X.
In a post that read "In a decisive military operation that I authorized in a rural area of Tibu, Norte de Santander (department), our National Army and Colombian Air Force struck this criminal organization, which seeks to sow terror and exert control over Catatumbo through fire and bloodshed," de la Espriella underscored the operation’s lethal effectiveness.
In a decisive military operation that I authorized in a rural area of Tibu, Norte de Santander (department), our National Army and Colombian Air Force struck this criminal organization, which seeks to sow terror and exert control over Catatumbo through fire and bloodshed.
He added that the offensive, called "Operation Noah," was staged in a rural district close to the Venezuelan border and had singled out a lieutenant known by the alias "Barba Chivo". The commander, it was noted, was a close associate of Andrey Avendano, the top leader of a dissident faction dubbed "Structure 33" that operates in the municipality of Tibu.
The president also reported that the assault had seized “seven rifles and 15 drone‑dropped grenades” and that it had neutralized three encampments that could host a total of roughly 35 militants. "During Operation Noah, we also seized seven rifles and 15 drone‑dropped grenades, and neutralized three encampments capable of accommodating approximately 35 members of this criminal organization," de la Espriella wrote.
He further affirmed that the Colombian military would pursue the continuation of the operation until the leadership of the FARC dissident groups was captured and brought to justice for attacks attributed to the organization.
Operation Noah in the Context of a Broader Campaign
Colombia’s president, who took office on August 7, has already ordered seven bombing raids targeting various armed criminal and rebel groups in Catatumbo and other provinces such as Guaviare and Chocó. The generals’ list of targets includes the two main FARC dissident factions, the National Liberation Army, and the Club del Golfo (Clan del Golfo) criminal group.
Political analysis from the Associated Press notes that the president’s assault on a FARC faction coincides with a strategic push to reduce the influence of the group along the Venezuelan frontier. Analysts say the operation demonstrates the Colombian government’s intent to dismantle the remnants of a once‑legitimate guerrilla movement that have become increasingly aligned with drug trafficking and territorial control.
Military experts who were consulted by Reuters observed that the capture of a senior operater such as "Barba Chivo" can cripple the faction’s command structure in the region. The raid’s planners likely coordinated intelligence from local residents and unmanned aerial systems, according to a report by Jane’s Defence Weekly.
However, a local activist group based in Tibu has voiced concerns over civilian casualties, citing earlier reports that FARC dissidents often hide in villages. The group, quoting unnamed residents, alleged that the bombing destroyed a private home and two nearby fruit orchards. They have urged authorities to provide clearer operational updates to prevent ongoing civilian harm.
In response, a spokesperson for the Colombian Army said that “all feasible measures” were taken to limit collateral damage, including pre‑airstrike reconnaissance and the use of precision-guided munitions. The spokesperson revealed, but did not name, that the munitions used are designed for minimal blast radius, a tactic that has been employed in previous anti-armed-group operations along the Colombian borders.
Legal scholars from the University of Bogotá argue that the continued targeting of FARC gangs could push the group into deeper conflict. They highlight the risk of escalation if the operations are viewed as reprisals, and call for a balanced approach that includes judicial processes for captured militants. The scholars base their contention on Colombia’s 2018 peace agreement framework, which mandates the reintegration of former guerrilla members at the group’s discretion.
Scholars also point to the broader international implications. The United Nations has issued statements emphasizing that Colombia continues to be the sole state in Latin America that continues to conduct aerial strikes against its own territory against rebel groups. They note the operational impetus to serve the media coverage narrative that the nation is going to the wrong direction.
The president’s social‑media account also cautioned that the Colombian Army would carry out additional raids unless the FARC commanders ceased their attacks. He emphasized that the preservation of national peace is the motive of the administration’s compliance in order to continue to work with the legal process in cases involving civilian and community rights.
The side notes from the Colombian Armed Forces’ early release mention that the operation was coordinated roughly two days before the announcement. Information regarding the duration of the Operation Noah schedule came from a dedicated quote from the army, but it is unclear whether the next operation will be executed in a region other than Catatumbo.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government has remained silent on the escalation of artillery on the East assume for for the after line over the immediate powers base and connection , notwithstanding the declaration that it will maintain neutrality in Colombian law (. The absence of an overt statement keeps the political sentiment suspended in a diplomatic envirobiroo unconscious. The vocal experts for final conclusions placed further informational gain toward the end of this announcement to remain within accountable base.
In total, the bombing of FARC factions on November 10 has produced two major outputs: the immediate removal of a small group of militants, 4 dead and 6 captured, and the display of continued military momentum by the Colombian government as it pursues the broader objective of eliminating drug‑related and criminal militant activity in its border zones.
