By Natalia Rueda 
Anorí, Antioquia, Colombia — Five Colombian soldiers were killed on Thursday in a brutal bomb attack attributed to the National Liberation Army (ELN), a leftist guerrilla group in the municipality of Anorí, Antioquia. In addition, four other people were wounded, including a civilian, in the attack, which comes amid the prolonged violence that has marked Colombia’s armed conflict for more than six decades.
The soldiers identified as Fredys David Robles Romero and professional soldiers Carlos Andrés Ramos Martínez, Iván Darío Reina Carabalí, Yoiser David Redondo Arias and Fabián José Regino Morare, were carrying out security work in the area, they were assigned to protect the signatories of the peace process. The attack took place at a delicate moment, just when the government had started working to reactivate peace talks with the ELN, after these were suspended in the past due to violence and mistrust between the parties.
In response to this tragedy, the Colombian Ministry of Defense sent around 60 soldiers, with the objective of stabilizing the area and finding those responsible for the attack. However, so far no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, although authorities have kept further details of the case confidential.
The ELN, like the FARC, has been designated as a terrorist organization by both Colombia and the United States. The group’s tactics have included kidnappings, bombings, and attacks on infrastructure, and it has long been involved in drug trafficking to fund its operations. Despite several rounds of peace talks over the years, the group’s commitment to peace remains uncertain, particularly as it faces internal divisions and pressure from rival armed factions.