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In the early hours of Sunday, Oct. 11, Colombian armed forces carried out a strategic air strike—dubbed Operation Beta—in the Catatumbo region of Norte de Santander, targeting a Farc dissident camp linked to alias Calarcá. The assault, involving Kfir jets and a Black Hawk helicopter, neutralised at least four suspected insurgents and recovered their bodies, while authorities reported no civilian casualties, though local residents felt heightened fear. President Abelardo De La Espriella personally ordered the operation, reiterating a hard‑line stance that “there is no truce with narcoterrorists.”
Key developments: the precise targeting of the Frente 33 camp, the confirmed death of four dissidents, and the government’s claim of limited collateral impact. Why it matters: it marks the fourth aerial bombing under De La Espriella’s administration and signals an intensified military push against remaining armed groups in a region already plagued by a humanitarian crisis.
What to watch next: verification of the identities of the deceased, especially the possible presence of high‑profile leaders like alias Andrey; potential retaliatory actions by dissident factions; and further statements from the president on expanding or adjusting the military campaign in Catatumbo. [[1]]