Colombia Orders Army into Cúcuta as Crackdown Widens
On October 29, 2026, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella ordered the militarization of Cúcuta, sending the army into the border city, according to Rio Times.
The move comes as deaths involving the military have drawn growing attention across the country. The New York Times reported on October 30, 2026 that such deaths have roiled Colombia during the president's crackdown, which the paper described as "narcoterrorist."
The campaign has been marked by a steady stream of announced results. On September 4, De la Espriella said 23 people had been killed and six captured, including a leader of a dissident rebel group, a faction that broke away from an earlier armed group. The New York Times reported later that month that he had announced the killing or capture of more than two dozen armed group leaders, in a report dated September 25.
Violence in the Caribbean region of Magdalena has also drawn the government's attention. According to the New York Times, the president deployed the military to the city of Santa Marta after a gang stormed an area in retaliation for security forces having killed one person. On September 22, De la Espriella announced the results of military operations in Magdalena alongside the regional governor, Margarita Guerra, according to a statement from the Magdalena government.
The most recent operation with a reported death toll involved the National Liberation Army, known by its Spanish initials ELN, a guerrilla group. The Associated Press reported that the president said at least 10 members of the group, including two key leaders, were killed in a recent operation.
