Colombia’s long-running conflict with armed groups escalated again after the National Liberation Army (ELN) carried out a deadly drone and explosives attack on a military base near the Venezuelan border. The strike, which took place Thursday night in Aguachica, killed seven soldiers and left at least 30 others wounded, according to Colombian authorities.

Colombia’s Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the assault, calling it a “terrorist action” involving drones and explosive devices. Videos shared online showed injured soldiers being rushed to medical centers, some on stretchers and others in wheelchairs, while explosions reportedly caused fires inside the rural military outpost.

The attack marked the second deadly clash with security forces in just one week, following the killing of two police officers earlier in Cali. It also underscores the growing tactical sophistication of the ELN, which has increasingly relied on drones and explosives in recent years.

Founded in 1964 and inspired by the Cuban Revolution, the ELN is the oldest surviving guerrilla group in the Americas. Despite its leftist roots, the group is now deeply embedded in cocaine trafficking and controls strategic drug-producing territories across Colombia. It also maintains a significant presence in neighboring Venezuela, operating in at least eight states, according to InSight Crime.

The violence comes amid mounting international pressure on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has faced criticism — including U.S. sanctions — over his approach of negotiating with armed groups rather than confronting them militarily. While peace talks have repeatedly stalled, Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine producer, and groups like the ELN continue to blend ideology with organized crime, fueling instability along the border region.