ELN drone attack wounds three at Tibú airport as Colombia battles rising drone violence
Guerrillas used explosive-laden drones to hit Tibú airport in Catatumbo region on Thursday, injuring three security staff and damaging facilities, as the army deployed tanks.
The strike
On Thursday, 9 July, explosive-laden drones struck Tibú airport in the Catatumbo region of northeastern Colombia. The army quickly attributed the attack to the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla. Three security workers were injured by the shock wave, and office ceilings collapsed, as shown in social media videos. The army deployed tanks to Tibú to secure the area, while the civil aviation authority coordinated with military and police to gather evidence and restore security.
Three employees suffered injuries caused by the shock wave.
- Explosive-laden drones hit Tibú airport in the Catatumbo region.
- Colombian army attributes the attack to the ELN and deploys tanks to Tibú.
- Three security staff injured by shock wave; office ceiling destroyed.
Rise of drone warfare
Colombia has seen a sharp increase in drone attacks by armed groups. In 2025, the Ministry of Defence recorded 8,395 drone attacks, leaving 20 dead and nearly 300 injured. Groups have quickly adapted imported technology, and the drone industry itself grew to over USD 34 million in the same year. Tiziano Breda, an ACLED analyst for Latin America, noted that some Colombian mercenaries returning from Ukraine brought back expertise and supply chains for drone warfare.
At the end of the day, using them more, one realizes better how to overcome the possible limits of any technology. It is also said that many come from the participation of some people in the conflict in Ukraine, where these sorts of drones are used a lot, so they already have more experience in that direction.
Breda also warned that armed groups are outpacing state responses. While the government is building a USD 1.68 billion anti-drone shield, the first of its kind in Latin America, insurgents are already deploying fibre-optic-guided drones that are immune to signal jamming.
Armed groups are much more agile, because they can buy anywhere and equip photography drones with explosives. Now that this anti-drone system is being attempted, we are already seeing the first cases of drones with fibre optics that are not vulnerable to these signal interception systems.
- Drone attacks
- 8395
- Deaths
- 20
- Injuries
- 300
Catatumbo’s coca war
Tibú lies in the Catatumbo region bordering Venezuela, a hotspot of conflict between the ELN and dissidents of the former FARC guerrilla. Both groups fight over illicit coca crops, the base for cocaine of which Colombia is the world’s largest producer. Since early 2025, these clashes have killed more than 100 people and displaced tens of thousands. Kidnappings and extortion remain routine sources of funding for the illegal groups.
Government ultimatum
President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, a far-right politician, has given all criminals in the country one month to surrender. The deadline coincides with his inauguration on 7 August. After that date, de la Espriella has vowed to launch massive bombing campaigns against powerful drug cartels. The move adds a new layer of pressure to an already volatile border zone.
