Colombia was shaken on Thursday by two coordinated attacks that left at least 18 people dead and dozens more injured, raising alarms over escalating violence ahead of the 2026 presidential elections.

Authorities have classified both incidents as acts of terrorism, attributing them to dissident factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), specifically the 36th Front of the Estado Mayor Central (EMC).

The first attack occurred in the rural Los Toros area of Amalfi, Antioquia, where a Colombian National Police UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was struck by an explosive-laden drone while supporting a coca crop eradication operation. Twelve police officers were killed and three others injured, according to Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián Rendón.

A video circulated by the governor showed the helicopter crashing into a hillside after the drone hit its tail rotor, marking the first reported use of such a tactic in the region. National Police Director Carlos Fernando Triana Beltrán condemned the strike as a “terrorist act,” while police units were deployed to secure the area and provide aid to the wounded.

President Gustavo Petro initially suggested the Gulf Clan, Colombia’s largest drug cartel, may have orchestrated the strike in retaliation for the recent seizure of 1.5 tons of cocaine in the Urabá region of Antioquia. However, he later confirmed that the attack was carried out by the 36th Front of the EMC, a FARC dissident group led by commanders known as “Manuelito” and “Guaracho.” Defense Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez stated that the group, allied with the National Liberation Army (ELN), has increasingly targeted security forces to protect its drug trafficking operations.

Hours later, in Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, a truck bomb detonated outside the Marco Fidel Suárez Military Aviation School, killing six civilians and injuring 71 others. The explosion, which occurred around 3 p.m. on a busy street, shattered windows, damaged homes, and caused panic among residents. The Colombian Aerospace Force labeled the incident a terrorist attack, and forensic teams are investigating to identify those responsible.

In response, Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder imposed a temporary ban on large trucks entering the city and announced a 400 million peso (approximately $100,000) reward for information leading to the perpetrators’ capture. Security forces have also sealed city entrances and exits. A suspect linked to the EMC was detained, although no group has officially claimed responsibility.

Thursday’s attacks follow a surge in violence in 2025, with experts warning that FARC dissidents and cartels like the Gulf Clan are regaining strength. In June, coordinated bomb attacks in Cali and Cauca province killed seven and injured 28, which authorities linked to the 2022 death of a FARC dissident leader.

Opposition figures have sharply criticized the government’s handling of security. Senator María Fernanda Cabal accused Petro’s “Total Peace” policy of emboldening armed groups, stating, “This is unrestrained terrorism while the government looks the other way.”

President Petro has vowed to designate the EMC and Gulf Clan as terrorist organizations and called for a security council meeting to strengthen protective measures.

The twin attacks, among the deadliest in recent years, underscore the ongoing challenges facing Colombia’s peace process, which has been strained by conflicts with dissident groups and drug cartels since the 2016 FARC peace deal. Authorities continue investigations, while Colombians brace for potential further violence. (ILKHA)