Ecuador accused by Colombias President of carrying out border bombing

Colombia and Ecuador Exchange Allegations Over Border Incident

A dispute has erupted between Colombia and Ecuador over allegations of bombing on the countries’ shared border. Colombian President Gustavo Petro claimed that 27 charred bodies were discovered in the area, which he believes may be linked to an aerial attack by the Ecuadorean military.

Petro stated that the bombings do not appear to be the work of armed groups or Colombian security forces. He denied giving any orders for such actions and expressed suspicion that the attacks may have originated from Ecuador.

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa has maintained that all strikes have occurred within his country’s borders, dismissing Petro’s accusations as false. Noboa stated that the operations are being carried out in Ecuador’s territory, not Colombia’s.

The incident comes amid a US-backed Ecuadorean military campaign against armed groups in the region, launched earlier this month. The Colombian Ministry of National Defence has deployed security forces and experts to assess the condition of an explosive device found near the border.

Elizabeth Dickinson, deputy Latin America director at the International Crisis Group, noted that the exact details of the attack are unclear. She stated that it is too early to determine the origin of the incident or who was affected by it.

The dispute between Colombia and Ecuador has been escalating over issues related to security and trade. In February, Noboa imposed a 30 percent tariff on Colombian goods, which Bogota responded with reciprocal tariffs. The two countries have since imposed a mutual 50 percent import levy.

Ecuador’s armed forces had previously bombed a camp belonging to the Comandos de la Frontera, a Colombian armed group active on both sides of their shared border. The operation was carried out in Ecuador with US intelligence assistance.

Source: Al Jazeera