Two devastating attacks in Colombia resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people on that 21st of August, according to authorities.
The incidents—a drone strike on a police helicopter and a car bomb explosion—have been linked to dissident factions of the defunct FARC guerrilla group, President Gustavo Petro said.
In Antioquia, near Amalfi, a police Black Hawk UH-60 helicopter carrying officers on a coca eradication mission was struck by a drone, triggering a fire that killed 12 police officers and left others injured.
Officials believe the attack was carried out by the FARC dissident group known as Frente 36, led by alias Calarcá.
Hours later, in Cali, a car bomb detonated outside a Colombian Aerospace Force base, killing six people—including civilians—and injuring dozens more.
The blast caused severe damage in the surrounding area and prompted tightened security measures, including restrictions on vehicle movement.
Authorities initially suspected the Gulf Clan drug cartel but later attributed both assaults to FARC dissidents.
Analysts note the growing use of drones in Colombia’s conflict, with over 300 drone attacks recorded since April 2024, mostly in coca-growing regions.
The coordinated strikes mark one of the deadliest escalations in recent years, underscoring Colombia’s ongoing struggle with armed groups that rejected the 2016 peace deal.
President Petro has vowed a firm response and urged international allies to classify dissident factions and drug traffickers as global terrorists.