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ELN Declares Holiday Cease-Fire as 18 Colombian Soldiers Are Seized in Chocó

Authorities say no government cease-fire exists.

Overview

  • The ELN announced a unilateral truce nationwide from 00:00 on December 24 to 00:00 on January 3, 2026.
  • Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez Suárez stated that security operations will continue and that no official cease-fire has been decreed.
  • The Army reported that about 200 people surrounded a unit in Carmen de Atrato, Chocó, and moved 18 soldiers to an indigenous reservation.
  • A recent attack on an Army base in Aguachica, Cesar, used explosives launched from drones, killing seven soldiers and injuring 31.
  • The ELN linked its actions to a 72-hour paro armado with dozens of intimidation incidents and accused the United States of regional military escalation.