Colombia’s New President Strikes Down Rebel Leader in Military Campaign

Sun Sep 06 2026 09:35:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

President de la Espriella’s troops eliminated alleged rebel commander Hernando Forero Mosquera in a dramatic showcase of force, signaling a crack‑down on armed factions.

A man suspected of leading a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was killed in a military operation in central Colombia. The strike, ordered by newly sworn‑in President Abelardo de la Espriella, is part of a broader campaign targeting illegal armed groups amid rising violence. Forero, known as “El ruso,” was an explosives expert who led the Frente 28 faction. The operation also claimed the lives of other suspected rebels, and the president hailed the violence as a clear message that there is nowhere for criminals to hide. U.S. officials pledged support and a $1 billion aid package to the new administration amid a surge of attacks on security forces.

Colombia’s New President Strikes Down Rebel Leader in Military Campaign

Hernando Forero Mosquera, aka “El ruso,” a suspected leader of a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), was killed in a surprise military operation in the central region of Colombia. The strike, announced by newly sworn‑in President Abelardo de la Espriella, is part of a broader crackdown on illegal armed groups that persist despite the 2016 peace deal.

De la Espriella urged the forces to deliver a “clear and powerful message to all bandits” that they cannot hide. He had promised a combative approach, condemning the “narco‑terrorism” that reignited violence across the nation. The president said that the operation also dealt with three other alleged dissidents in Meta province and that soldiers had killed two members of the Gulf Clan in Antioquia.

The crackdown comes amid a succession of attacks on security forces. In Cauca a car bomb detonated at a tollbooth, injuring two guards, while in Cesar a police officer was killed by a drone‑delivered bomb just after the new administration took office.

U.S. support was quickly pledged, with Washington offering a $1 billion security assistance package and welcoming Colombia into the Shield of the Americas, a regional counter‑crime alliance.

The operation underscores the stark contrast between President de la Espriella’s hard‑line policies and his predecessor’s peace‑focused agenda, revealing the intensity of Colombia’s battle against the resurgence of paramilitary and drug‑trafficking groups.