The Ministry of Defense of Colombia denounced this Sunday threats with drones allegedly equipped with improvised explosive devices against a hospital located in the department of Norte de Santander, bordering Venezuela, attributing it to the guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN).
“The ELN threatened a hospital in Ábrego, Norte de Santander, by flying drones equipped with improvised explosive devices, putting at risk the safety and integrity of patients, medical personnel, and wounded soldiers receiving care,” the ministry reported in a message on social media.
Specifically, the ministerial body attributed these acts to the Carlos Armando Cacua Guerrero front and announced the filing of a complaint with the competent authorities in order to open an investigation on the matter.
“Threatening a protected property constitutes a clear violation of International Humanitarian Law,” emphasized the ministry, which then stressed that “a hospital is not a battlefield” but a place where “the mission of those there is to save lives.”
The statement from the Colombian Ministry of Defense comes a day after denouncing a drone attack against a group of soldiers in the same area, leaving at least one soldier dead and five others injured.
“We reject the attack by the ELN against our soldiers in Ábrego, Norte de Santander, carried out with drones loaded with explosives. One soldier was killed and five others were injured,” it said.
The ministry added in a social media message that “against terrorism” the Colombian Public Force “will remain firm and exercise legitimate force” to “defend” the country and its citizens.
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