A military operation conducted by Venezuelan forces in Apure State has resulted in the deaths of at least 19 people. The operation, which took place on October 30, targeted a camp used by Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN). According to human rights organisation FundaRedes and a military source cited by AFP, the attack occurred in a forested area near the Colombian border. Venezuelan forces deployed drones and attack helicopters during the operation.
The majority of those killed in the operation were Venezuelan nationals. FundaRedes initially reported nine deaths, but its coordinator, Juan Francisco García, later stated that authorities had transported another 10 bodies to the state capital, San Fernando, on October 31. The organisation also provided footage showing bodies, fallen trees, and the remains of what appeared to be a camp. The attack was initially reported in Buena Vista del Meta, within Apure's Pedro Camejo municipality.
Residents provided names and details from documents found in the area, but the victims' identities had not received official confirmation. García called on Venezuelan authorities to explain the circumstances of the operation, establish the identities of those killed through verifiable procedures, and notify their relatives. He also sought information about measures to protect civilians in the surrounding communities.
A military source alleged that the United States had ordered the operation and that the Central Intelligence Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation had provided assistance. However, this allegation did not come with independent confirmation. Neither the US State Department nor the Venezuelan government immediately responded to requests for comment.
The military source stated that Venezuelan forces would continue searching the area, as they believed other rebel camps remained nearby. The operation comes during a change in relations between Caracas and Washington, with Interim President Delcy Rodríguez working closely with Washington. Rodríguez and US President Donald Trump had promised elections, but without announcing a date.
The reported strike also occurs amid a tougher security campaign by Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella against the ELN and other armed groups. De la Espriella ordered an expanded offensive against the ELN and FARC dissident factions following a regional meeting in Arauca, a Colombian department bordering Venezuela. He targeted the groups' leaders and financing networks and demanded the release of five officials held by the ELN.
The approximately 2,200-kilometre border between Venezuela and Colombia accommodates several armed organisations involved in drug trafficking, illegal mining, and smuggling. These include the ELN and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Colombia's government signed a peace agreement with FARC in 2016, but armed factions continued operating outside that settlement. The ELN remains one of Latin America's most powerful guerrilla organisations.
Key points
- At least 19 people were killed in a Venezuelan military operation against a camp used by Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) in Apure State.
