Colombia was rocked on August 21, 2025, by a pair of devastating attacks that left at least 18 people dead and scores injured, sending shockwaves through a nation already grappling with persistent violence and an uncertain political future. The incidents, which authorities have classified as acts of terrorism, took place in the rural area of Amalfi, Antioquia, and the bustling city of Cali, underscoring the growing sophistication and brazenness of armed groups operating in the country.
The first attack occurred in Los Toros, a rural district of Amalfi, where a Colombian National Police UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was supporting an operation to eradicate coca leaf crops—the raw material for cocaine. According to Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián Rendón, the helicopter was struck by a drone carrying explosives, causing it to crash into a hillside and killing 12 officers on board. Three others were injured in the incident. A video shared by the governor captured the chilling moment the aircraft was hit, marking what officials believe to be the first use of such a tactic in the region.
National Police Director Carlos Fernando Triana Beltrán did not mince words, condemning the attack as a “terrorist act.” Police and military units were quickly deployed to secure the crash site and tend to the wounded. The use of drone technology in this context, as noted by AP, represents a worrying escalation in the capabilities of Colombia’s armed dissident groups.
Just hours later, violence struck again—this time in Cali, the country’s third-largest city. A truck packed with explosives detonated outside the Marco Fidel Suárez Military Aviation School, killing at least six civilians and injuring more than 30 others. The explosion shattered windows, damaged nearby homes, and sent panicked residents fleeing. The Colombian Aerospace Force labeled the incident a terrorist attack, and forensic teams were dispatched to investigate. Cali’s mayor, Alejandro Eder, responded by banning large trucks from entering the city and announcing a reward of 400 million pesos (around $100,000) for information leading to those responsible. Security forces sealed all city entrances and exits in the immediate aftermath.
Authorities quickly attributed both attacks to dissident factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), specifically the 36th Front of the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), led by commanders known as “Manuelito” and “Guaracho.” According to Colombia One, President Gustavo Petro initially pointed the finger at the Gulf Clan, Colombia’s largest drug cartel, suggesting the helicopter strike was retaliation for a recent cocaine seizure. However, he later confirmed that FARC dissidents were behind both attacks. Defense Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez added that the EMC, allied with the National Liberation Army (ELN), has increasingly targeted security forces to protect its drug trafficking operations.
In the wake of the violence, President Petro addressed the nation, acknowledging a painful truth: the groups responsible are not political insurgencies, but rather, as he put it, “transnational drug trafficking mafias.” This admission marked a significant shift in the government’s rhetoric. For years, Petro’s administration had pursued a policy known as “Total Peace,” seeking to negotiate with various armed actors, including guerrillas, criminal gangs, and residual groups. The hope was to open the doors to reconciliation for any group willing to lay down arms. But as the events of August 21 made clear, some actors had no intention of abandoning violence.
The attacks have been described by Colombia One as the definitive breaking point for the Total Peace project, exposing the fragility of a strategy that, while noble in intent, may have inadvertently empowered criminal organizations. Critics argue that offering bilateral ceasefires too quickly weakened the State’s leverage, allowing armed groups to regroup, expand their illegal economies, and strengthen their networks. During the period when peace was being discussed at negotiating tables, extortion, child recruitment, forced displacement, and drug trafficking reportedly multiplied.
Senator María Fernanda Cabal, a prominent opposition figure, was quick to criticize the government’s approach. She accused Petro’s policy of emboldening armed groups, stating, “This is unrestrained terrorism while the government looks the other way.” The government, for its part, has vowed to respond forcefully. President Petro announced plans to designate the EMC and Gulf Clan as terrorist organizations and called for a security council meeting to strengthen protective measures for the country’s citizens.
The timing of these attacks is especially troubling, coming just months before the 2026 presidential elections. Experts warn that FARC dissidents and drug cartels like the Gulf Clan are regaining strength, threatening to destabilize the country further. The violence has also reignited debate over the effectiveness of Colombia’s peace process, which, despite the landmark 2016 FARC peace accord, has struggled to contain new waves of criminality and violence in rural and urban areas alike.
Adding to the complexity is the surge in coca cultivation. According to the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, the area under coca cultivation in Colombia reached a record 253,000 hectares in 2023. This boom has provided a lucrative financial base for armed groups, fueling ongoing conflict and making eradication efforts both dangerous and, at times, tragically costly.
In response to the attacks, international cooperation has become a renewed priority. Analysts and officials alike have called for closer coordination with the United States and neighboring countries to cut off the financial and logistical flows sustaining these criminal networks. With only weeks remaining before the Trump administration decides whether to certify Colombia’s efforts in the fight against drug trafficking, the stakes could hardly be higher.
Looking ahead, President Petro faces the daunting task of restoring public trust and security during his final year in office. Many believe that dialogue with armed groups must now be reserved only for those who demonstrate genuine willingness to abandon violence. Military action alone, however, will not be enough. As Colombia One notes, the State must also invest in social programs, justice, and the replacement of illegal economies to ensure lasting peace.
As Colombia mourns the loss of life and grapples with the aftermath of these attacks, the bitter lesson is clear: peace cannot be built on premature concessions or misplaced trust. Instead, it demands a combination of decisive state action, international cooperation, and a relentless commitment to addressing the root causes of violence. Only then might the dream of a truly peaceful Colombia move closer to reality.