COLOMBIA – Seven members of the armed rebel group National Liberation Army (ELN) were killed in a targeted security operation, according to the Colombian president Gustavo Petro.

Petro said on Wednesday through US social media company X that he had ordered an airstrike targeting the ELN in the Catatumbo region.

He underlined that utmost care was taken to ensure that there were no forcibly recruited children in the area where the operation was carried out.

“Seven ELN members were killed, one person was captured, and 12 rifles were seized. There may be more wounded among the scattered groups that fled the area.

“Three years ago, a peace process was offered to the ELN. In response, one year ago, they killed 200 villagers in Catatumbo,” he said.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said Washington is working with Colombia on counter-narcotics efforts and sanctions, following a meeting with Petro at the White House.

Petro said ahead of the talks with Trump that he was determined to strengthen ties with Washington, emphasizing cooperation against drug trafficking with an approach focused on peace and protecting lives.

The meeting took place amid strained relations, with Trump accusing Colombia of being a “narco-state” and Petro criticizing US policies in Latin America as neocolonial.

Tensions were also fueled by a 2025 US strike on a vessel in the Caribbean that Washington claimed was linked to the ELN militant group that it said was engaged in narcotics smuggling.

Petro denied the allegation, saying the boat belonged to fishermen.

The US classifies the ELN as a terrorist organization.