The attack occurred amid persistent violence in the Catatumbo region.
On Sunday, the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group claimed responsibility for an attack with explosives against the Tibu airport in Norte de Santander, which left three people injured and damaged the airport’s administrative offices.
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The ELN’s Northeastern War Front asserted that the airport had become a “military target” due to its alleged use as logistical infrastructure for paramilitary groups, referring to the 33rd Front of the FARC dissidents, which operates with the “support” of the Colombian Armed Forces.
The attack occurred amid persistent violence in the Catatumbo region, where the ELN is vying for territorial control with FARC dissidents in a border area with Venezuela characterized by coca cultivation.
The guerrilla group accused President Gustavo Petro’s administration of providing “guarantees” to paramilitaries under the “total peace” policy, and denounced the military for “instrumentalizing” the airport to benefit criminal groups.
#Colombia: The ELN has struck a police station in the municipality of Tadó, Chocó, using a drone to drop explosives on the building.
At least three police officers were injured.
(via @SALVARANM) pic.twitter.com/F2lgHAa6n5
— POPULAR FRONT (@PopularFront_) July 5, 2026
The attack occurred on Thursday in the airport’s administrative area, where three members of the security team suffered severe injuries from the blast wave and were taken to a hospital.
Meanwhile, the ELN justified the action, stating that the airport “must be at the service of the population and not of the counterinsurgency war.”
The Civil Aeronautics Authority (Aerocivil) reported that it is working in coordination with the Armed Forces and the National Police to secure the airport perimeter and restore normalcy after the attack.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Colombia: Former presidential candidate for the Alliance for Life, Ivan Cepeda, assured that his campaign will respect the procedures established by electoral law. pic.twitter.com/WrA2sXgkKr
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) June 26, 2026
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Source: EFE
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