Violence Escalates in Colombia: ELN’s Armed Strike Leaves Officers Dead

In Cali, Colombia, two police officers were killed in an attack by the National Liberation Army, amid rising tensions over U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. The ELN's 72-hour armed strike caused widespread disruptions, while another attack by FARC-EMC in Buenos Aires exacerbated the conflict.

In a series of violent incidents, the ongoing conflict in Colombia has escalated with the killing of two police officers in the southwestern city of Cali. The attack, attributed to the National Liberation Army (ELN), a notorious rebel group, underscores the growing tensions related to U.S. military operations in the Caribbean.

Details from the police reveal that the officers were victimized by a roadside bomb blast while on routine patrols on Tuesday. Despite swift medical intervention, the officers succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. The ELN launched a 72-hour 'armed strike' as a protest against the perceived U.S. military expansion in the region.

Further south, in Buenos Aires, local authorities reported an attack on a police station by FARC-EMC rebels, coinciding with broader regional unrest. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has condemned the attacks while expressing frustration over the ELN's outreach method, citing their protest against U.S. intervention as fundamentally flawed.

(With inputs from agencies.)