Venezuelan forces attack ELN camp

At least 19 suspected members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) may have been killed during a bombardment by the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) against a camp in the state of Apure, southern Venezuela, according to local media Runrun.es. The attack is notable because the Venezuelan government, under the chavista movement, has historically supported Colombian guerrilla groups like the ELN.

Bodies recovered and casualties reported

Juan Francisco García, coordinator in Apure of the NGO Fundaredes, reported that nine bodies were transferred to the regional capital San Fernando de Apure for identification, while ten others remained at the site. Injured individuals reportedly took refuge in Colombia across the border, indicating the attack’s severity and the proximity of the conflict zone to the Colombian border.

Drones used in targeted strike

According to Venezuelan journalist Sebastiana Barráez, writing for Infobae, the attack was conducted using drones against a suspected drug storage site that also included ELN aircraft camouflaged among the vegetation. The operation, launched on October 30, is said to respond to the interest expressed by the American administration in combating irregular groups in Colombia.

U.S. influence and political shift

Barráez also noted that Venezuela has been under the tutelage of Washington since the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, during an American raid in Caracas. Maduro was replaced by his former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, and is accused of narcotics terrorism, torture, and the use and possession of weapons. This shift in power is seen as a result of U.S. pressure and intervention.

Historical ties and recent U.S. actions

For years, the FARC guerrilla, which was demobilized in 2017, and the ELN were able to take refuge in Venezuela under Hugo Chávez, who shared their communist ideals, a protection that continued under Maduro. However, under the leadership of Donald Trump, the United States has conducted a broad campaign against "narcoterrorism" involving 19 right-wing countries under the Americas Shield initiative.

Diplomatic meeting planned

The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is scheduled to meet the Venezuelan minister of Foreign Affairs, Oliver Blanco, on Monday, November 2, in Washington, according to El Nacional. This meeting comes amid ongoing tensions and shifting alliances in the region.