By TheDailyNewsHub Reporter
At least 19 people have reportedly been killed after Venezuelan military forces attacked a camp belonging to Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group in Apure State, western Venezuela, near the Colombian border.
The attack, which took place early Friday, October 30, involved drones and armed helicopters targeting a camp in a remote, forested area, according to a Venezuelan military source cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
FundaRedes, a Venezuelan non-governmental organisation monitoring human rights violations in border regions, initially reported nine deaths following the operation.
However, Juan Francisco Garcia, a coordinator of the organisation, told AFP on Sunday that another 10 bodies had been transported to San Fernando, the state capital, bringing the reported death toll to at least 19.
Videos shared by FundaRedes reportedly showed bodies scattered across the ground, damaged trees and the remains of what appeared to be a guerrilla camp.
A military source familiar with the operation, who spoke anonymously, claimed that the attack received intelligence support from the United States, including the CIA and FBI. However, this allegation has not been independently verified.
The Venezuelan government and US State Department had not immediately responded to requests for comments on the operation.
The ELN is one of Colombia’s most powerful armed guerrilla organisations and has maintained a presence along the 2,200-kilometre border between Colombia and Venezuela, where armed groups have been linked to drug trafficking, illegal mining and smuggling.
The operation reportedly marks a significant shift in Venezuela’s military approach towards Colombian armed groups operating within its territory. Human rights advocate and military affairs expert Rocío San Miguel described the attack as a possible change in the country’s military doctrine.
The military source also indicated that Venezuelan forces intended to continue searching the area, claiming that additional rebel camps could be located there.
However, the reported casualties and circumstances of the operation have not been officially confirmed by the Venezuelan government, while the identities of those killed remain unclear.