Colombia: National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel commander killed in military operation
Commander Uriel, one of the main leaders of Colombia’s left-wing National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels, was killed during a military operation, President Ivan Duque announced on Sunday.
“This is a particularly important blow (to the ELN) because one of the most visible figures of this terrorist organization has fallen,” the president said in a speech in Choco department, in northwest Colombia where the operation took place.
According to the president, Andres Vanegas, 41, better known by his nom de guerre Commander Uriel, was responsible for kidnappings, murders and recruiting minors for his Marxist guerrillas.
He is also accused of being behind a car bomb attack on a police academy in Bogota in January 2019 which killed 21 recruits.