Venezuela launched airstrikes against the National Liberation Army, a Colombian rebel group known as the ELN, in the border state of Apure. The October 30 attack, carried out with assistance from the United States, marked a significant shift in Venezuela's longstanding tolerance of the ELN's presence in the country.
The operation signals a potential turning point in the decades-long relationship between the Venezuelan government and the ELN, which has used the country as a sanctuary and operational base. The strike could indicate a broader campaign against the ELN, as the Venezuelan government faces increased pressure from the United States to address the group's activities. The operation was the first major attack against the ELN by Venezuelan security forces.
The airstrikes reportedly targeted an ELN camp that housed a drug processing laboratory, according to photographs and videos circulated on social media. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 19 individuals, including Venezuelans, Colombians, and Mexicans. The Venezuelan government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the attack.
The ELN has maintained a significant presence in Venezuela, particularly in the border regions, since the 2000s. The group's expansion was allegedly facilitated by alliances with Venezuelan officials and military personnel, allowing it to establish criminal governance systems and control key areas of cocaine trafficking and illegal mining.
The Venezuelan government's ties with the ELN date back to the presidency of Hugo Chávez, who opened the country's borders to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the 2000s. After the FARC signed a peace agreement in 2016, the ELN filled the resulting criminal void, gaining control over much of the frontier between Venezuela and Colombia. The group also spread into several Venezuelan states, reaching as far as the eastern border with Guyana.
The recent political shift in Venezuela, following the capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in January, has raised questions about the ELN's future in the country. The interim presidency of Delcy Rodríguez, amid pressure from Washington, has led to increased scrutiny of the group's activities. The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously talked about potential strikes against the ELN in Venezuela with the Rodríguez administration.
