Colombian President Labels FARC Dissident Attacks Killing 18 as Terrorism

Colombia has recently experienced two deadly attacks attributed to dissident factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who rejected the 2016 peace agreement. In Cali, a vehicle loaded with explosives detonated near a military aviation base, killing six and injuring over 70, while earlier a National Police Black Hawk helicopter was shot down by a drone during a coca eradication operation in Antioquia, killing 12 officers. President Gustavo Petro condemned the attacks, calling for armed dissidents and drug trafficking cartels to be classified as terrorists and pursued worldwide. The helicopter attack was initially blamed on the Gulf Clan drug cartel, but a suspect linked to a FARC dissident coalition was arrested for the Cali bombing. The violence underscores the challenge of rising coca cultivation in Colombia, which reached a record high in 2023, fueling illegal armed groups and drug trafficking. Following these incidents, the military has increased its presence in Cali, and authorities are intensifying security measures to combat drug-related violence and terrorism.