‘I always hear them before I see them’: Drones strike fear in Colombia
In Colombia, armed groups are increasingly using drones, which instill fear among civilians. The rise in drone attacks has led to significant civilian casualties, with reports indicating a sharp increase in weaponized drone incidents. Experts warn that this trend poses new threats to safety in conflict zones.
- ▪The Colombian Ministry of Defence reported 8,395 weaponized drone attacks in 2025, marking a 445 percent increase from the previous year.
- ▪In May 2025, a 12-year-old boy and his mother were killed by an explosive drone strike in Tibu.
- ▪Human rights advocates have raised concerns about the increased risks of civilian fatalities due to drone warfare.
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'Hear them before I see them': How drones strike fear in ColombiaIncreasingly, armed groups in Colombia are turning to cheap, widely available drones to fight from a distance. What is the toll on civilians?Military surveillance drones fly in formation past an air traffic control tower in Colombia [Courtesy of Colombia's Batallon de Aeronaves No Tripuladas]Military surveillance drones fly in formation past an air traffic control tower in Colombia [Courtesy of Colombia's Batallon de Aeronaves No Tripuladas]By Catherine EllisPublished On 22 May 202622 May 2026SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoWhenever a low, bumblebee-like thrum cuts through the quiet of Sandra Montoya’s home near Tibu in Colombia’s…
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