Northeastern War Front
This July, fighting continues between ELN guerrillas and troops from the Army’s Vulcano Task Force, based in Tibú. These troops are also operating against the population of Catatumbo through the so-called “Band of 33.”
The “Band of 33” continues to serve the war plans of the state Army’s Vulcano Task Force, which has deployed it from Las Mercedes, Tibú, and between kilometers 19 and 25 of the road to La Gabarra. This is the area where fighting continues with the guerrillas of the ELN’s Northeastern War Front, Commander-in-Chief Manuel Pérez Martínez.
- 4: At 9:00 PM, in a commando operation against the finance chief of the 33rd Gang, alias Jhon Cabeza, he was seriously wounded and received assistance from troops of the Army’s Vulcano Task Force, who evacuated him by a military helicopter.
- 9: We bombed the administrative facilities of the Tibú airport with drones, leaving them partially destroyed. This airport terminal had been used as a logistical base for the movement, recruitment, and evacuation of casualties from the 33rd Gang, with the protection of the Army’s Vulcano Task Force.
- 10: At 10:30 AM, in the municipality of San Martín, in southern Cesar, we attacked a position held by the narcoparamilitaries known as the Conquistadores de la Sierra Nevada (Conquerors of the Sierra Nevada), where we captured a wounded paramilitary member.
- 12: At 7:00 a.m., in the Ligerones village of the municipality of La Playa de Belén, Norte de Santander, we attacked a position held by the 33rd Street gang, resulting in the capture of one paramilitary member. We recovered a motorcycle, a Glock pistol, and cash from him.
- 16: At 1:15 p.m., in Tibú, we conducted a ramp bombardment against the Army’s Vulcano Task Force headquarters. The base suffered severe damage to its facilities, and casualties are unknown.
- 16: At 9:00 p.m., we repelled a drone attack carried out by the Army and the 33rd Street gang against our units in the 20 de Julio village of the municipality of Tibú.
- 16: We conducted an aerial bombardment against the 33rd Street gang, targeting their positions in the 20 de Julio, Filo Paraco, and Filo Seco villages of the municipality of Tibú, destroying several of their bunkers.
- 16: During the night, we launched an aerial bombardment against the 33rd Battalion’s positions at Filo Paraco and Orú, in the municipality of Tibú.
- 17: At 6:00 a.m., we attacked the National Police station in the municipality of El Carmen, Norte de Santander, resulting in one death.
- 17: At 6:00 a.m., we attacked the National Police station in Guamalito, in the municipality of El Carmen. The results are unknown.
Source: https://eln-voces.net/2026/07/27/los-combates-actuales-en-el-catatumbo/