The president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, highlighted the results of Operation Azarías, an important military operation carried out against members of the FARC dissidents led by Iván Mordisco in the department of Guaviare.
Through his social media, the president shared images of the operation and focused on the results of the military offensive against armed organizations that continue to operate in various regions of the country.
The operation, conducted on August 30, represents one of the main blows of the new administration against the illegal structures that challenge the Colombian state.
De la Espriella showed the results of the military operation
In the video shared by the president, images of the military deployment and the material seized during the operation can be seen, as well as the results obtained by the security forces.
Among the members of the dissidents killed is alias Tigre, identified as the leader of one of the fronts of the armed organization.
De la Espriella particularly highlighted the background of the guerrilla leader and recalled that he had participated in attacks against members of the Army and the National Navy.
“That miserable, whom we have taken out of circulation today, perpetrated attacks against men of the Army and the National Navy”, affirmed the Colombian president during the video.
The message reflects the change in tone of the new administration towards illegal armed groups, with communication focused on showing military results and reclaiming the work of the Armed Forces.
A change in strategy towards armed groups
Operation Azarías occurs in the first weeks of De la Espriella's presidency and is part of a strategy aimed at regaining state control over areas affected by the presence of criminal organizations and armed groups.
Instead of exclusively prioritizing announcements and negotiations, the government emphasized the operational capacity of the security forces and the neutralization of armed structures.
The president also decided to personally communicate the results of the operations, a strategy that aims to convey a clear message to both the population and illegal groups: the Colombian state is willing to use its military capabilities to combat them.
The images of the operation also include aerial shots of the attack and records of the subsequent deployment of troops, with an aesthetic reminiscent of the communication used by other governments that publicly claim their operations against criminal organizations.
The government targets Iván Mordisco's dissidents
One of the main objectives of the offensive is the structure led by Iván Mordisco, one of the main leaders of the FARC dissidents.
These organizations maintain a presence in different areas of Colombia and engage in illegal activities linked to drug trafficking, extortion, territorial control, and other criminal economies.
For De la Espriella's administration, combating these structures is essential to regain security and ensure the effective presence of the state in the regions most affected by violence.
Operation Azarías represents, in this sense, a political signal in addition to a military one. The government seeks to make it clear that illegal armed organizations will not have a free pass to consolidate their territorial power.
De la Espriella advocates for a firm security policy
The decision to showcase the results of the operation also marks a difference from previous administrations, which on numerous occasions avoided using explicit images of the results of military operations in their public communication.
De la Espriella, on the other hand, chose to show the state's firepower and highlight the work of Colombian soldiers.
The central message of the government is direct: those who attack security forces and seek to impose their dominance through weapons will face a strong response from the state.
With Operation Azarías, the Colombian president aims to consolidate a security policy based on the offensive against criminal structures and the recovery of territorial control.
The operation against the FARC dissidents adds to other actions taken during the first weeks of his administration and anticipates a much tougher policy against the armed groups operating in Colombia.
