Six rebels killed in first military operation under new Colombian president

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has announced that six armed rebels were killed during the first military operation of his new administration. The operation, conducted on Sunday, marks the government's initial offensive against armed groups. President de la Espriella, a right-wing leader who was sworn in on Friday, described the operation as a clear message to criminals, stating there is nowhere for them to hide. According to the president, four rebels, including a commander from a dissident faction of the FARC, were killed in a rural area of the central Meta department. Two members of the 'Clan del Golfo' group were also killed in a rural region of Antioquia, in the northwest of the country. During his inauguration, the president pledged to combat what he termed 'narcoterrorism and all criminal organisations,' declaring that the option of dialogue with armed groups has ended. He has promised to intensify attacks against rebels and drug traffickers with support from Israel and the United States, and has proposed the construction of large-scale prisons similar to those in El Salvador. Despite these measures, attacks against security forces occurred on his first day in office, including a drone strike on a police station in the north that resulted in the death of one officer. Meanwhile, Panama has increased security along its 266km border with Colombia, which runs through the Darien Gap. Oriel Solis, director general of Panama's National Border Service (Senafront), told AFP that the deployment aims to secure coastlines and borders against criminal groups. Panama's Minister of Public Security, Frank Abrego, previously stated there is no credible intelligence suggesting that members of the 'Clan del Golfo' or the National Liberation Army (ELN) are attempting to cross the border. Citing intelligence shared with Colombia, he urged the public to avoid panic. Panama's border measures coincide with a military exercise involving approximately 20 countries, including the United States. The exercise, intended to protect the Panama Canal, is scheduled to conclude with the attendance of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.