Five members of the Colombian National Navy were injured in the corregimiento of Belén de Docampadó, a rural area of the Bajo Baudó municipality, following an attack with explosive devices launched from drones, attributed to alleged members of the National Liberation Army (ELN).
The incident occurred during military operations in the Chocó department, one of the regions most affected by the country’s armed conflict. According to the Pacific Naval Force, the uniformed personnel belong to the Marine Infantry River Battalion No. 22.
According to the statement issued by the military institution, the incident took place on the morning of June 7, when the soldiers were carrying out operational tasks in the area. The attackers allegedly used modified drones to drop explosives, a tactic that increases the risks for the public force and the civilian population.
The military authority specified that, following the attack, the wounded received initial medical attention at the scene. Subsequently, an aircraft from the Pacific Naval Air Group transported them to a high-complexity hospital in the Special District of Buenaventura, where they remain under observation and specialized treatment.
We recommend reading:Colombia remembers the first anniversary of the attack on Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay with masses and tributes
More Read
The uniformed personnel wounded in Belén de Docampadó belong to the Riverine Marine Infantry Battalion No. 22, according to the Pacific Naval Force – credit Colombian Navy
“The National Navy categorically rejects this terrorist attack, which flagrantly violates International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights”, the institution stated in the release, adding that it will file the respective complaint with the competent authority.
Increase in attacks with unmanned technology
According to the authorities, the use of drones for explosive attacks has become an increasingly frequent practice by illegal armed organizations in Colombia.
More Read
The ELN and other armed structures adapted these devices to increase their offensive capacity, which poses new challenges for authorities and security in regions such as the Colombian Pacific.
These types of attacks not only put the Military Forces at risk, but also rural communities, which are left exposed to collateral damage. The National Navy reiterated that it will maintain operations in the area to guarantee the safety of the population and combat organized armed groups.
Other recent drone attacks in the country
The terrorist action in Bajo Baudó is not an isolated event. Days earlier, in the municipality of Teorama, in the Catatumbo region, one soldier died and another was wounded following a similar attack attributed to the ELN. The National Army indicated that the uniformed personnel of the Special Energy and Road Battalion number 21 were surprised by drones loaded with explosives while patrolling the area.
The entity detailed that professional soldier Wilson Andrés Guevara Bermeo died in that attack, and another soldier was evacuated to the city of Cúcuta due to the injuries sustained. Furthermore, in the rural area of El Tarra, a device launched from a drone caused the death of an elderly person and left several others injured.
“The National Army categorically rejects the use of drones rigged with explosives by organized armed groups, a terrorist practice that violates human rights and international humanitarian law, putting at risk not only the public security forces, but also the communities in the region,” the military institution stated.
Escalation of violence and official figures
The National Navy rejected the terrorist attack in Bajo Baudó and announced a formal complaint for violations of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights – credit Colombian Navy
The conflict in the Chocó department and other regions such as Norte de Santander intensified since January 2025, with a territorial dispute between the ELN and dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
You can also read: Abelardo supporters take to the streets wearing the Colombia national team jersey
According to the Ministry of Defense, between January 1 and April 30, 2026, 30 members of the public security forces died in acts related to their institutional mission. Of these victims, 13 were soldiers, 16 were police patrol officers, and one was a high school graduate auxiliary.
Currently, nine uniformed officers remain kidnapped by the ELN and dissidents of the FARC, in addition to two investigators from the Prosecutor’s Office Technical Investigation Corps.
