August 2025 FARC dissidents clashes

FARC August clashes
Part of the Colombian conflict
A Colombian Police Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, similar to the one shotdown by the rebels.
Date 13 August 2025 – present Location Amalfi, Antioquia, Cali and Guaviare, Colombia
Belligerents
FARC dissidents	Colombia
Casualties and losses
11 killed, 2 captured	3 soldiers and 13 policemen killed, 4 soldiers and 4 policemen injured, 34 soldiers taken captive, one Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter downed [1]
7 civilians killed, 78 injured [2] [3]
In total 34 killed and 86 injured [4]

In August 2025, the FARC dissidents and the Military Forces of Colombia conducted clashes, resulting in at least 33 deaths, wounding and kidnapping at least dozens more.

The attacks

On 13 August 2025, FARC dissidents conducted a drone attack targeting Colombian Navy and Colombian Armed Forces who were manning a checkpoint on the Naya River in south-west Colombia, killing three and wounding four. ^[5]

On 21 August 2025, FARC dissidents shot down a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk over a mountain during an anti-narcotics mission in Amalfi, Antioquia Department, with a suicide drone, killing 13 police officers and injuring four others. ^{[6] [7] [8]} On the same day, in Cali, a car bomb targeting the Marco Fidel Suárez Air Base killed 7 civilians, including a child, and injured 78 others. ^{[9] [10] [11] [12]} A second bomb laden truck did not go off but was deactivated by authorities, ^{[13] [14]} two FARC dissidents were captured from the site. ^[15] The attacks were the bloodiest terrorist attacks since 2019. ^[16]

On 24 August 2025, Colombian military killed eleven FARC dissidents including a commander, in clashes in the El Retorno municipality in the province of Guaviare. ^[17]

On 26 August 2025, 34 Colombian soldiers were taken captive while attempting to evacuate the El Retorno municipality. ^[17]

International reactions

Countries

• Venezuela: The government of Nicolás Maduro described these attacks as a "terrorist attack." It expressed its solidarity with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his government, and the "fraternal Colombian people," expressing "its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and its support for the injured and those affected". ^[18]
• Peru: The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Elmer Schialer stated: "Peru firmly rejects any act of violence that compromises the peace and integrity of the population and security forces in the sister Republic of Colombia". ^[19]
• Paraguay: The Government of Paraguay condemned the terrorist attacks in Colombia and stated that "criminal acts" such as these affect innocent people and erode democracy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rubén Ramírez Lezcano stated: "The Government of the Republic of Paraguay regrets and condemns the terrorist attacks perpetrated in Colombia. Criminal acts of this nature directly affect innocent people, undermine the rule of law, and erode the foundations of democracy". ^[20]

See also

• 2025 Catatumbo clashes
• Timeline of the Colombian conflict

References

1. "Aumentó a 12 el número de policías muertos tras ataque con drones en Antioquia".
2. "Un atentado con explosivos contra una base militar y el derribo de un helicóptero de la policía dejan al menos 18 muertos y decenas de heridos en Colombia". Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
3. "Suben a 7 los fallecidos en atentado contra una base aérea en la ciudad colombiana de Cali".
4. "At least 18 killed in Colombia in drone attack on helicopter, car bombing".
5. "Drones laden with explosives kills three Colombian soldiers". www.bbc.com. 13 August 2025. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
6. "Drones con explosivos: el arma de ilegales en Colombia que se sospecha atacó a helicóptero policial" [Drones with explosives: the weapon used by illegal immigrants in Colombia suspected of attacking a police helicopter.] (in Spanish). Associated Press. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
7. "La Nación / Colombia: confirman ocho muertos por combates y ataque con dron de guerrilla". www.lanacion.com.py (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 August 2025.
8. "Colombian police helicopter shot down during anti-narcotics mission; 10 killed". BNO News. 21 August 2025. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
9. "At least 17 people killed in car bomb and separate helicopter attack in Colombia". Euronews. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
10. "Colombia: truck bomb, helicopter downing kill at least 17 – DW – 08/22/2025". dw.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
11. "Colombia: varios muertos y heridos tras explosiones en las inmediaciones de una base aérea en Cali". France 24. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
12. Noticias, Redacción América (21 August 2025). "Atentado en base aérea de Cali deja 5 muertos y heridos". América TV (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
13. Semana (21 August 2025). "FAC confirma que explosión en Cali fue un carro bomba: se habla de varios muertos y una decena de heridos". Semana.com Últimas Noticias de Colombia y el Mundo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
14. Cordova, Melanie (21 August 2025). "Atentado terrorista cerca a la base aérea de Cali deja un muerto y varios heridos: habrían sido dos explosivos". larepublica.pe (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
15. "Imputan a dos presuntos responsables de atentado en Cali que dejó seis muertos". La Jornada. 24 August 2025.
16. "Qué se sabe del ataque contra una base militar y el derribo de un helicóptero de la policía que dejan al menos 19 muertos y decenas de heridos en Colombia". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). 22 August 2025. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
17. "At least 34 Colombian soldiers kidnapped after clashes with FARC dissidents". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 26 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
18. "Venezuela condena enérgicamente los atentados en Colombia que dejaron al menos 18 muertos".
19. "Perú y Venezuela condenan atentados en Colombia que dejaron al menos 18 muertos y más de 60 heridos".
20. "Paraguay condena ataques terroristas en Colombia por afectar a inocentes y a democracia".