In brief
Armed with the code name “Noah,” the Colombian military targeted a FARC dissident faction near the Venezuelan border, killing four militants and seizing six captives. The operation was part of a broader campaign to dismantle the group’s criminal influence along the border and is the president’s seventh airstrike since taking office. "This operation will continue until top leaders of the criminal organization are captured and brought to justice," the president said.
On Saturday November 10, 2026, President Abelardo de la Espriella announced that Colombian armed forces had carried out an airstrike against dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the Catatumbo region near the Venezuelan border. According to Xinhua, the strike was executed in the rural area of Tibu, Norte de Santander, and resulted in the deaths of four members of the armed group and the capture of six others.
In a statement posted to the social media platform X, the president described the offensive as "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." He further clarified that the operation, code‑named Noah, was part of a broader campaign to eliminate FARC’s criminal influence along the Venezuelan border.
"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," said President Abelardo de la Espriella.
The president highlighted that the operation led to the capture of a rebel leader known by the alias “Barba Chivo.” In his comments, he identified the detainee as a close associate of Andrey Avendano, the top commander of “Structure 33,” one of the FARC dissident groups active in the municipality of Tibu.
During Operation Noah, Colombian troops also seized seven rifles and 15 drone‑dropped grenades. They reportedly neutralized three encampments that could have accommodated approximately 35 members of the criminal organization.
President de la Espriella stated that the offensive against FARC dissidents is an ongoing effort and would continue until the group’s top leaders are captured and brought to justice for their attacks. He noted that since taking office on August 7, he has ordered seven bombing raids targeting various armed criminal and rebel groups in Catatumbo and other regions, including Guaviare and Choco.
The president added that these raids have targeted the two principal FARC dissident factions, the National Liberation Army, and the Clan del Golfo criminal group. The aim is to dismantle the criminal network that has maintained a foothold along the northern border, disrupting illicit activities and restoring security to local communities that have been subjected to the group’s violence and influence.
While the operation was hailed by officials as a decisive blow against criminal insurgency, stakeholders in the region are monitoring the aftermath to assess both the immediate tactical gains and the longer‑term impact on community safety. Civil society organizations have urged the government to ensure that captured individuals are processed through the judicial system in a manner that upholds human rights standards and fosters reconciliation within affected communities.
As the Colombian government continues its campaign against armed groups, the international community remains wary of collateral effects on vulnerable populations. The United Nations has previously called for accountability and respect for civilians in conflict zones, emphasizing the need for proportional responses that minimize civilian harm.
Colombian security officials will likely release further details regarding the eventual trial of the captured dissidents. The President’s statement underscored that the operation serves as a deterrent to future criminal activity and signals the country’s commitment to restoring peace and security along its northeastern frontier.
