19 killed as Venezuelan army attacks Colombian rebel camp

At least nineteen lives were lost when Venezuelan forces targeted a camp belonging to the Colombian rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), in western Venezuela's Apure State. Military observers reported the majority of casualties were Venezuelan citizens. The assault, conducted on Friday morning, incorporated the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and attack helicopters.

Juan Francisco Garcia, head of Fundaredes, a group tracking human rights abuses in the border area, initially confirmed nine fatalities. Ten more bodies were later transported to San Fernando.

The Venezuelan military's operation, alleged to be backed by U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and FBI, was reportedly ordered by Washington. Neither the U.S. State Department nor the Venezuelan government has yet commented on these claims. The 2,200-kilometer border between Venezuela and Colombia has become a hotspot for criminal activities such as drug trafficking, illegal mining, and other smuggling.

Since the 2016 peace deal between Colombia's government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the ELN has risen as the most formidable rebel organization in Latin America. Military affairs expert Rocio San Miguel believes this latest action indicates a shift in Venezuela's military strategy. Military sources suggest additional rebel camps are still in the border region, and operations to locate them will persist.

This offensive might also reflect changes in Venezuela's security policy following Nicolas Maduro's removal in January. His successor, backed by former associate Delsy Rodriguez and U.S. President Donald Trump, has gained support from the U.S. The situation in Colombia, where recently elected far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella is intensifying efforts against the ELN and other drug trafficking groups, is exacerbated by the U.S.-led regional initiative targeting drug trafficking and organized crime.