Colombian Military Kills Key FARC Dissident Commander in Southwest

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced on Sunday that a senior leader of the dissident factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was killed during a military operation in the country's volatile southwest region.

The president identified the slain rebel as a man known by the aliases "Felipe" or "Arcadio," describing his death as a "crushing blow" to the dissident faction commanded by a leader who goes by "Iván Mordisco." De la Espriella shared a video on social media platform X that appeared to show a body bag alongside weapons and ammunition seized during the operation.

"We are closing the net on Mordisco and his networks," the president warned, vowing that offensive operations against illegal armed groups would continue. "Any criminal who doesn't surrender will end up in a body bag."

According to de la Espriella, Felipe was responsible for multiple attacks on police stations in Valle del Cauca using explosives dropped from drones. He also led a unit within the Jaime Martínez faction, a group of former FARC fighters who rejected the 2016 peace agreement with the government. The rebel leader was additionally accused of planting explosive-laden gas cylinders on roads, attacking military units, torching vehicles, and engaging in extortion.

This latest killing follows a series of aggressive actions by de la Espriella, who has taken a hard-line stance against armed groups since assuming office, reversing the more conciliatory approach of his predecessor, Gustavo Petro. On Friday, the president announced the capture of Emilio José Cordero Sierra, known as "Fantasma," who is accused of coordinating the exchange of cocaine for military hardware with FARC dissidents and is wanted for extradition by the United States on terrorism and drug trafficking charges.

In a further sign of his tough posture, de la Espriella has approved the extradition of five suspects to the United States, a move that had been suspended under the previous administration's peace process. The president has called on Iván Mordisco and other rebel leaders to surrender and face justice, warning that continued resistance would be met with lethal force.