Bogotá: At least 18 people were killed and more than 70 were injured in two coordinated attacks in Colombia, which authorities have attributed to dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The violence marks one of the deadliest escalations since the collapse of recent peace efforts.

The first attack occurred in Cali, where a cargo truck loaded with explosives detonated near a Colombian Aerospace Force base. The powerful blast killed six people and left 71 injured, according to updated reports from local authorities. The explosion caused widespread panic in the city, damaging nearby buildings and vehicles.

Hours later, a National Police UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was shot down while carrying out coca eradication operations near Amalfi, in the Antioquia region. The crash killed 12 officers on board, with initial reports suggesting the involvement of heavily armed groups operating in the area.

President Gustavo Petro condemned the attacks, directly blaming FARC dissident groups who refused to sign or comply with the 2016 peace accord. “These acts of terror will not deter our pursuit of peace and justice,” Petro stated, while vowing to strengthen security operations against the armed factions.

Earlier speculation linked the helicopter attack to the Gulf Clan, a powerful drug trafficking organization, but subsequent intelligence assessments pointed toward FARC dissidents. Authorities in Cali also confirmed they had received threats from the Estado Mayor Central, the largest FARC splinter group, before the bombing.

The attacks come amid mounting pressure on Petro’s “total peace” initiative, which has struggled to contain violence in rural areas where dissident groups, the National Liberation Army (ELN), and criminal organizations continue to battle for control of drug trafficking routes and resources.

In recent months, violence between rival groups has displaced thousands of civilians and claimed dozens of lives, raising fears of a return to widespread conflict. Human rights organizations have also warned of increased child recruitment and risks faced by indigenous communities in conflict zones.

Security forces have been deployed to reinforce vulnerable regions, while authorities have announced rewards for information leading to the capture of those responsible. Despite these measures, the attacks have underscored the fragility of Colombia’s security landscape nearly a decade after the landmark peace accord with the FARC.