Colombian Airstrike Claims Lives of Minors Amid Anti-Drug Operations

A military airstrike in Colombia targeting cocaine-trafficking rebels has tragically resulted in the deaths of three minors. This incident, which occurred on August 27 in the Guaviare department, marks the most lethal military action since President Abelardo de la Espriella assumed office earlier this month.

Authorities confirmed that among the ten victims were two 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old, all reportedly affiliated with a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that rejected a peace agreement established in 2016. Following this operation, President de la Espriella announced another bombing that eliminated eight members of a FARC dissident group led by Ivan Mordisco.

As child recruitment by armed groups escalates in Colombia, a recent Human Rights Watch report indicates that over 1,500 children have been enlisted since 2021, with 625 cases noted in 2024 alone. The organization has raised concerns about the role of social media in facilitating this recruitment.

Source: www.aljazeera.com