U.S.-Backed Drone Strikes Hit ELN Camp in Venezuela

The strikes targeted a camp belonging to the National Liberation Army, or ELN, a Colombian guerrilla group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and other countries. The camp was in the vicinity of Buena Vista del Meta in Apure state, on the other side of the border from Colombia’s Vichada region. Drones and attack helicopters were used in the operation, which took place in coordination with Venezuela’s military.

U.S.-Backed Strikes in Venezuela Raise Questions About Oversight

The operation marks a sharper U.S. role in Latin American counter-cartel campaigns: American assistance helped Venezuelan forces strike an ELN camp near the Colombian border. Drones and attack helicopters were used, and at least 19 people were killed.

A Venezuelan military source said the CIA and FBI helped coordinate the strikes and described them as ordered by the United States. Officials in Caracas and the State Department offered no comment. That absence of public explanation leaves key questions about the U.S. role unanswered.

The ELN is designated a terrorist organization by the United States and other countries, and the group’s drug trafficking is cited as a source of financing. But the campaign’s supporters should not treat that designation as a substitute for transparency when U.S. agencies are involved in lethal operations abroad.

Joint U.S.-Venezuela Strike Targets ELN Cartel Camp

A joint operation struck an ELN camp near Venezuela’s border with Colombia, using drones and attack helicopters. At least 19 people were killed. The ELN, a Colombian guerrilla organization, is designated a terrorist group by the United States and other countries, and funds its activities through narcotics commerce.

The strikes reflect a more forceful approach to cartel threats, built around cooperation with Latin American partners. Venezuelan forces moved in as part of the operation, showing that the campaign involves local military participation rather than only U.S. action.

A Venezuelan military source said the CIA and FBI helped coordinate the strikes and that the operation was ordered by the United States. Caracas and the State Department have not commented. The targeting of an organization accused of financing violence through drug trafficking underscores the stakes of confronting cartel networks across the region.