Tragic Toll: Three Minors Among Ten Killed in Colombian Military Airstrike Against FARC Dissidents

Authorities have confirmed that three minors were among the ten individuals killed during a Colombian military air strike targeting cocaine-trafficking rebels last week, as President Abelardo de la Espriella ramps up security operations against armed factions.

The military bombing, which took place on August 27 in the southern Guaviare department, marks the deadliest operation since President de la Espriella assumed office earlier this month. According to the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, a total of 10 people died in the attack, with the Ministry of National Defence specifying that two of the victims were 15 years old and one was 16.

Officials stated that the victims were allegedly associated with a dissident faction of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a group that previously rejected the 2016 peace agreement with the government.

Addressing the operation on Monday, right-wing leader and United States President Donald Trump ally President de la Espriella announced that another bombing in the same region resulted in the deaths of eight members belonging to a FARC dissident faction led by commander Ivan Mordisco, though it remains unconfirmed if any minors were among those casualties.

"The bandits, who for decades have recruited minors to turn them into combatants or human shields, must pay for these crimes that violate International Humanitarian Law," President de la Espriella wrote on X.

Data from the Defence Ministry released on Monday indicates that 24 suspected rebels have lost their lives in military operations since the current administration took power. These airstrikes coincide with a concerning resurgence in child recruitment by armed factions throughout the country, as highlighted in a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report published last week. The report estimates that at least 1,500 children have been recruited by armed groups since 2021, including 625 documented cases in 2024 alone.

The watchdog organization revealed that criminal and rebel organizations are increasingly utilizing social media channels to recruit minors for hazardous duties, such as piloting explosive-laden drones. Furthermore, HRW noted that algorithms across platforms like Meta and TikTok appeared to actively amplify content enticing youth to join rebel forces.

"Armed groups in Colombia are recruiting children with impunity," stated Juanita Goebertus, HRW's Americas director. "Protection systems are failing, and social media platforms have become a more effective recruiting ground." In response, representatives from Meta and TikTok informed HRW that their policies strictly prohibit content promoting violence and confirmed they have already removed accounts previously flagged by the organization.