Venezuelan army withdraws from area where it encountered FARC dissent on border with Colombia

The Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) took a step back in its confrontation with the Dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the state Hurry, almost two and a half months since the start of the armed conflict on March 21, 2021 and that It cost the military institution 16 murdered soldiers, eight kidnapped and some missing. Much of the staff has been relocated from the region.

May 28 many soldiers from the army and the rural national guard have left the area. On the trail of La Victoria until Loneliness, there was not none of the 9 alcabalas that were there. From La Victoria to Guasdualito, only two of the seven remained 7 control points or control points. Half of the soldiers, who were taken away during these two months, left the scene.

“The war tanks have been transferred to a military installation near La Victoria; vehicles in good condition were also brought there. What they took were the damaged cars. The CONAS (Anti-Kidnapping Command) tanks were hidden, but they have already been removed and they have them in the GNB command in La Victoria ”.

Military said Infobae that They assured that they would replace all staff who have remained in the area for the time being. On Saturday, May 29, bursts of long guns and four explosions of what would be bombs or anti-personnel mines were heard overnight. At La Primavera, they ensure that the Venezuelan army deactivates mines and bombs laid by guerrillas in the region.

“We don’t know how true this is, but intelligence reports have revealed that the road between La Victoria and El Nula has been mined in several places ”.

It is important to note that that same night of May 28, the guerrillas have shown themselves in the city of La Victoria, El Ripial, La Capilla and Santa Rosa, celebrate the military withdrawal.

“In the city, there are several guerrillas of those who commanded aka Ferley (Fraction Gentil Duarte) who ensure that They will face the men of the Second Marquetalia, because they have information that they are the ones who are going to fight them now that the Venezuelan army is gone, ”he said. Infobae a resident of Alto Apure.

Clashes

May 26 at 12:20 p.m., FARC dissidents, the Gentil Duarte fraction, fired on Colombian navy “aviators”, which moved along the river, near the Montillero and / or La Capilla sector. Crossfire broke out between the Colombian army and the guerrillas, which terrified the inhabitants of the area.

Voladoras is the name that The inhabitants of the border give fast boats with outboard motors normally used to transport people or materials of all kinds.

“Here in Venezuela there is no government for the guerrillas”says JA, an inhabitant of the area, who expresses his indignation because “These people, the FARC, are in uniform and armed on Venezuelan territory.”

In dialogue with Infobae JA adds that “the guerrillas are visible with their uniforms and weapons, from Santa Rita to La Capilla, they are seen, They went to the sandy areas, where they are entrenched ”, adding that this has happened since the problem between the Venezuelan Armed Forces and the dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) became more acute.

The guerrilla attack on Colombian navy aviators began when the Colombian soldiers seized two falcas from them, that is, two large flat canoes, which they make canvas or plastic roofs, which they pull from one side of the river to the other and with which the guerrillas were transporting food to their camps in Venezuelan territory.

“The two falcas were full of market. The FARC got angry with the Colombian navy and got on a motorbike to ambush them on the bank of the Arauca River. When the navy aviators went up, the guerrillas beat them. There, the clash broke out because Colombian sailors responded to the attack ”, ends up saying.

For a few days FARC-Gentil Duarte disclosed a video, as proof of life, with the eight soldiers kidnapped, there was no response from the armed forces or senior officials. The army’s withdrawal from Apure could facilitate the delivery of kidnapped soldiers or could escalate the war if it is a military strategy to rethink the attacks.

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