Drone attacks by Colombian armed groups more than double in early 2026

Civilians are caught in the crossfire of drone attacks between armed groups and government forces.

Al Jazeera2026-09-18 02:51查看原文 ↗

Civilians are caught in the crossfire of drone attacks between armed groups and government forces.

A Colombian police officer, left, holds a drone jammer [File: Jair F Coll/Getty Images]

Drone attacks by armed groups in Colombia surged 146 percent in the first five months of this year compared with the same period in 2025, according to the country’s Ombudsman’s Office.

The attacks killed 21 people and wounded 145 others, including children. Civilians accounted for nearly a third of those killed or wounded, the office said on Thursday.

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Ombudsman Iris Marin warned that the drones inflict fear well beyond the immediate casualties, with their recurring buzz terrorising communities in conflict-affected areas.

Drones are part of the escalating war between armed groups and government forces, leaving civilians caught in between.

Homes, educational institutions, petrol stations and infrastructure were also hit.

Marin said that in some territories, fear of overflights and attacks has also triggered displacements, restrictions on mobility, and difficulties in working the fields, accessing health centres or carrying out daily activities.

It is common in the country for armed groups to demonstrate their strength using lethal, makeshift drones rigged with explosives.

The Ombudsman said the attacks have “restricted access for humanitarian missions and hindered processes of return and permanence in the territories”.

Analysts have said armed groups use the aerial devices for two main purposes: attacks and surveillance. They target and launch attacks on rival groups as well as state forces , and survey illegal coca fields.

Last month, a Human Rights Watch report said children are being trained in drone warfare. The watchdog also said that armed groups are recruiting children through social media platforms like Meta and TikTok.

Drones are used by both sides

The flight of unmanned aircraft over Colombia’s rugged terrain makes neutralising them difficult.

In January 2026, the Colombian government announced a $1.68bn project to develop an anti-drone shield.

Colombia’s right-wing president, Abelardo de la Espriella, governs from a military stronghold in Barranquilla and is waging a frontal offensive against armed groups with support from the United States. Recent operations by Colombian troops have utilised US-made drones, a military source told AFP.

In recent months, Colombian military forces have also used grenade-launching drones to counter armed fighters.

平民百姓被卷入武装团体和政府军之间的无人机袭击交火中。

左图为哥伦比亚警察手持无人机干扰器。[图片：Jair F Coll/Getty Images]

据哥伦比亚监察专员办公室称，今年前五个月，哥伦比亚武装团体发动的无人机袭击比 2025 年同期激增 146%。

袭击造成21人死亡，145人受伤，其中包括儿童。该办公室周四表示，死伤者中近三分之一是平民。

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监察专员艾瑞斯·马林警告说，无人机造成的恐惧远远超出了直接伤亡范围，它们反复发出的嗡嗡声恐吓着受冲突影响地区的社区。

无人机是武装团体与政府军之间不断升级的战争的一部分，使平民百姓陷入夹缝之中。

民居、教育机构、加油站和基础设施也遭到破坏。

马林表示，在一些地区，对飞越和袭击的恐惧也引发了流离失所、行动受限以及下地干活、前往医疗中心或进行日常活动方面的困难。