Alleged rebel leader killed in Colombia as president targets armed groups

Key Points:

• Hernando Forero Mosquera, suspected leader of a dissident faction of the left-wing rebel group Farc, was killed in a military operation in central Colombia, alongside five other alleged armed group members.
• The operation is part of a crackdown on illegal armed groups initiated by Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, who has vowed to target "narco-terrorism" aggressively, including through air strikes.
• Forero led Frente 28, a dissident group that rejected the 2016 peace deal with the government and is involved in cocaine trafficking and illegal mining, contributing to the resurgence of violence in Colombia.
• De la Espriella's approach contrasts with his predecessor Gustavo Petro's "total peace" strategy, which prioritized negotiation but failed due to repeated ceasefire breaches by illegal groups.
• The US supports de la Espriella's government, with President Donald Trump endorsing him and the US State Department planning to provide $1 billion in security assistance.