Over the past few days, forces from the two large left-wing rebel groups ELN and Farc have been fighting each other in the Catatumbo region in northeastern Colombia, near the border with Venezuela. On Friday, around 30 deaths were reported.
Various groups have been vying for control of the drug trade in the region for several years. ELN has also recently clashed with the paramilitary right-wing group Clan del Golfo.
Representatives of Colombia's regular army describe the situation as critical.
As the nation's army, it is up to us to stabilize the area, says the army chief, General Luis Emilio Cardozo.
The Colombian government signed a peace agreement with Farc in 2016, and President Gustavo Petro initiated talks with ELN in 2022, promising to try to broker "complete peace" in the country. But the talks have stalled, and on Friday, following the violence, Petro formally put the talks on hold and simultaneously accused ELN of war crimes.
ELN, on the other hand, blames Farc for the escalation.
According to the authorities in Venezuela, hundreds of Colombian families have crossed the border to seek refuge there.
