Eight killed in Colombian air strike targeting Gulf Clan gang

Eight people were killed in an air strike carried out by Colombia's armed forces in the province of Antioquia, in north-west Colombia, according to President Abelardo de la Espriella.

Air strike and target

President de la Espriella said he personally authorised the bombing targeting the Gulf Clan, Colombia's largest criminal gang. He said Haminton Mosquera, a senior member of the gang and one of 10 "priority targets" for Colombia's security forces, was among those killed and had been "brought down".

In a post on X, the president said Mosquera was suspected of ordering attacks against the security forces, including the murder of a police officer in the municipality of Tarazá last year.

Gulf Clan and US designation

The Gulf Clan has been engaging in criminal activities for decades, mainly trafficking cocaine from Colombia to destinations in the US and Europe, as well as illegal mining and people smuggling. The US added it to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs) last year.

President's security approach

De la Espriella was elected in June after campaigning on a promise to crack down on Colombia's powerful criminal gangs, including by launching air strikes. In his post, he said that "the offensive won't stop" and vowed to regain control of areas currently controlled by criminal organisations such as the Gulf Clan.

His offensive has been welcomed by many living in areas where extortion and gang violence are rampant, but he has faced criticism for the way he has made some of his security announcements. Less than a month after taking office, he published a video showing him walking among 23 body bags containing the remains of 23 people killed in an air strike on a suspected guerrilla camp. On Wednesday, he shared a photo in which he can be seen writing his campaign slogan, "Welcome to the miracle homeland" on a bomb.

He also defended his decision to wear an army uniform at a recent event in Cúcuta at which he confronted a detainee suspected of being a Farc rebel. "What did you make of the bomb I sent you, signed by me?," the president can be heard asking the man. He later told journalists that he wore the uniform because "I am a soldier of the homeland. That's why I dress like a soldier, because I came to serve Colombia. Because I honour the heroes, police officers and military."

Why it matters

The strike shows the Colombian government is using air strikes as part of its campaign against the Gulf Clan and other criminal organisations, a policy that has drawn both public support and criticism.

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Sources

• bbc.com: Colombia: Eight killed in air strike targeting Gulf Clan gang
• bbc.co.uk: Colombia: Eight killed in air strike targeting Gulf Clan gang - BBC News

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.