Colombian military attack on suspected rebel camp leaves 19 dead

The air strike comes after the US accused the Colombian president of allowing the drugs trade to expand.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationWatch DocumentariesTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListTo the Ends of The Earth EarthWatch DocumentariesNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveColombian military bombs suspected rebel camp, killing 19 1 hour agoShareSaveVanessa BuschschlüterLatin America editor, BBC News OnlineShareSaveColombian militaryDefence Minister Pedro Sánchez described the air strike as a blow to "one of Colombia's most dangerous criminals"At least 19 people have been killed in an air strike on a suspected rebel camp in Colombian province of Guaviare, according to the country's military.

The attack targeted a dissident faction of the Farc rebel group, which engages in drug trafficking.

Colombia's left-wing president, Gustavo Petro, had in the past been reluctant to use air strikes to hit rebel camps but following the breakdown of peace talks with several of Colombia's armed groups, he gave the green light for the military offensive.

The air strike comes after the Trump administration accused Petro of allowing the drugs trade to expand, which the Colombian president has denied.

Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez said that President Petro had authorised the air strike after learning of "the imminent threat [the group] posed to the population and the security forces".