Drone attack on army base in Colombia: three soldiers killed, 16 injured

Three soldiers were killed and 16 others injured in a drone attack on an army base in Colombia.

The attack was carried out on the base in Santa Rosa del Sur, a small town at the foot of the San Lucas mountain range, the Colombian army said in a statement on Saturday.

The gold-rich region has long been contested between rebel armed groups, including the Gulf Clan and the National Liberation Army (ELN), and smaller groups.

Footage shared on social media showed smoke rising from the base after three explosions and soldiers taking shelter behind sandbag positions.

"Those behind this attack... will have nowhere to hide," President Abelardo de la Espriella warned on the X platform. "Every attack on our soldiers strengthens our resolve further," he added.

Violence has intensified in several rural areas under the conservative president, who took office last August.

The president has buried peace talks with rebel groups and adopted a hardline approach, including more aerial strikes and deploying more troops in the regions.

De la Espriella's government argues that the armed groups used the ceasefires granted by the previous government to strengthen their grip on rural areas. In response, some groups have stepped up attacks on the country's armed forces.

Last week, an army base in Tolima province was attacked with missiles made from gas cylinders. Four civilians, including a two-month-old baby, were killed in that attack.