Colombia's president, Abelardo De la Espriella, says a military bombing in the south-western department of Cauca killed 10 members of the ELN guerrilla group, including two senior commanders, The Rio Times reports.
The pre-dawn strike, named Operation Ónix, took place on Thursday in rural El Tambo and was announced on Sunday. The president called it the hardest blow against the ELN in eight years. Security forces said they seized rifles, a pistol and grenades and found a camp big enough for about 25 fighters.
Colombian media count it as the government's fifth bombing of armed groups. The tactic has been criticised because rebels recruit children, and minors were reported among the dead in earlier strikes in Guaviare and Catatumbo. It has not been stated whether any minors died in El Tambo, and the ELN has not commented.
Source: The Rio Times
