Colombia Stands Firm on Airstrikes Amid Child Casualties, Vowing to Tackle Rebel Recruitment
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Colombia's Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez has reaffirmed the government's commitment to using airstrikes to combat illegal armed groups, despite the recent deaths of at least 12 children and teenagers in three airstrikes. The attacks, which targeted a FARC dissident group in the provinces of Amazonas, Guaviare, and Arauca, have sparked concerns about civilian casualties and human rights abuses. Sanchez, a retired general, defended the airstrikes as a necessary measure to counter the expansion of rebel groups, which have been recruiting children and teenagers by force. The minister emphasized that the attacks were carried out with 'entirely legal means, in accordance with the constitution and the law.' Human rights ombudsman Iris Marin has urged President Gustavo Petro to suspend the bombings, citing the high number of child casualties. However, Sanchez argued that the rebel groups bear primary responsibility for the deaths of minors, as they recruit them to deter military attacks and protect their leaders and camps. The controversy surrounding the airstrikes comes amid a shift in Petro's security strategy. The president halted airstrikes when he took office in 2022 but reinstated them last year, on the condition that they did not cause casualties among children and teenagers recruited by guerrillas and criminal gangs. The recent purchase of 17 Gripen E/F fighter jets from Sweden's Saab has been hailed as a transparent process by Sanchez. The $3.1 billion deal aims to replace the aging fleet of Israeli Kfir aircraft acquired in the 1980s. Military cooperation with the United States remains strong, with intelligence sharing continuing to combat drug trafficking. However, the bombing of suspected drug-running vessels has sparked a war of words between Petro and U.S. President Joe Biden, prompting the Colombian leader to threaten to cancel intelligence sharing. The situation highlights the complexities of Colombia's security strategy and the need for a balanced approach to tackle the country's long-standing conflict.
