# US drones join the hunt for Colombia’s deadliest guerrilla group as Venezuela switches sides

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/us-drones-join-the-hunt-for-colombias-deadliest-guerrilla-group-as-venezuela-switches-sides/
- Published: 2026-11-12T22:57:26+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T23:23:22+00:00
- Original publisher: Washington Examiner (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/4802043/us-drone-hunt-colombia-guerrilla-group-eln-venezuela/
- Topics: Americas, Politics, World

## Key points

- Venezuela’s shift has altered the ELN’s access to a long-standing refuge.
- A reported drone-backed strike killed 19 people at an ELN camp.
- The ELN grew amid Maduro’s tolerance and a vacuum left by FARC.

## Summary

Venezuela has shifted towards the United States following the capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro, changing the conditions for Colombia’s fight against the National Liberation Army (ELN). The group has long used Venezuelan territory as a refuge after attacks in Colombia, and the reported strike on one of its camps signals a major change in that arrangement.

The article describes the ELN as Colombia’s and Latin America’s largest left-wing guerrilla group, strengthened by Maduro’s tolerance and the gap left by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Last month, Venezuela reportedly struck an ELN camp with US drones and intelligence, killing 19 people. The text does not provide further details about the operation or the group’s response.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.