In brief
On November 10, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared that an airstrike in the Catatumbo region killed four members of a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and captured six, among them a rebel leader known as "Barba Chivo." The operation, code‑named Noah, was carried out by the National Army and Air Force and included a seizure of weapons and drones. The president said the assault would continue until all top leaders of the dissidents were brought to justice.
On November 10, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella reported that an airstrike in the northeastern Catatumbo region killed four FARC dissident fighters and captured six others, according to Xinhua.
The president announced the operation, code‑named Noah, on the social media platform X, saying it was carried out in the rural area of Tibu, Norte de Santander, near the Venezuelan border.
Abelardo de la Espriella said:
"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,"
The operation also led to the capture of a rebel leader known by the alias "Barba Chivo," who is a close associate of Andrey Avendano, the top commander of “Structure 33,” a FARC dissident group operating in Tibu.
During the raid, military officials seized seven rifles, 15 drone‑dropped grenades, and neutralized three encampments capable of accommodating about 35 members of the criminal organization.
De la Espriella said the offensive against FARC dissidents would continue until top leaders were captured and brought to justice for their attacks.
Since taking office on August 7, the president has ordered seven bombing raids against various armed criminal and rebel groups in Catatumbo and other regions, including Guaviare and Choco, targeting the two main FARC dissident factions, the National Liberation Army, and the Clan del Golfo criminal group.
