Americas — 2026-09-07

Colombia Airstrikes Kill 31 FARC Dissidents in Deadliest Month for Armed Clashes Since 2018 as Government Ends All Peace Talks

BLUFColombia's blanket terrorist designation and military-first posture very likely foreclose renewed peace talks with FARC dissident factions through early December, entrenching a cycle of escalating violence.

Between August 27 and 31, Colombian armed forces conducted airstrikes against two separate FARC-dissident factions, killing at least 31 fighters, beginning with Operation AMÓN in Guaviare 12. In the same period the government of President Abelardo de la Espriella extradited the leader of another armed group, formally ended peace talks with three organizations, and designated all non-state armed groups in Colombia as terrorists 12. ACLED's Latin America Senior Analyst Tiziano Breda said the conflict-monitoring group has recorded at least 84 deaths in clashes between security forces and armed groups since De la Espriella took office on August 7, making August the deadliest month for such clashes in Colombia since ACLED's coverage began in 2018 2. ACLED also recorded 30 drone attacks by armed groups against security forces in the government's first three weeks, more than four times the total in the preceding three weeks and concentrated in Cauca and Norte de Santander departments 2.

Analysis
De la Espriella's termination of talks with three armed groups and blanket terrorist designation for all non-state actors forecloses near-term negotiation channels, compounding a fight-first posture that has already produced Colombia's deadliest month of clashes since ACLED began tracking in 2018. Formal peace talks between Bogotá and FARC dissident factions are very likely to remain suspended through early December, since the terrorist designation and "prison or death" posture eliminate the legal and political basis for negotiation. Moderate confidence reflects a single primary source and the lack of independent confirmation of internal government deliberations. The surge in drone attacks indicates armed groups are adapting tactically rather than seeking dialogue, and sustained high casualty counts will further harden both sides against renewed talks.

2 sources