BOGOTA — Colombia’s government filed a formal request with the International Criminal Court on Sunday to investigate the ELN rebel group for war crimes following a pre-dawn ambush in the Catatumbo region near the Venezuelan border that killed 31 soldiers and wounded 14. The attack — one of the deadliest on Colombian security forces in years — came days after the government declared the ELN ceasefire void following the Riosucio massacre that killed 22 civilians.
President Gustavo Petro, speaking from the presidential palace in Bogota, called the ambush “an act of barbarism that falls squarely under the jurisdiction of the ICC” and said his government had exhausted all options under domestic law. The ELN claimed responsibility, saying the soldiers were “occupying indigenous territory” and that the attack was a “defensive response.” Defense Minister Ivan Velez said forensic teams had recovered the soldiers’ bodies and that military operations in Catatumbo would resume at dawn.
The families of the victims gathered outside the Defense Ministry overnight, demanding the full restoration of the military’s offensive posture. Congress voted 68-12 to authorize an expanded military campaign. The United States offered intelligence support. The Vatican called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The Red Cross said it was sending a team to the area to assist with prisoner exchanges being proposed by the ELN.
Written by Diego Vargas