Colombia - November 2025

In November, Colombia faced intense scrutiny over military airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of at least 12 minors forcibly recruited by armed groups. These operations, targeting dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), have reignited debates about human rights abuses in the country. President Gustavo Petro, who initially suspended airstrikes upon taking office in 2022 to avoid civilian casualties, reinstated them last year amid escalating violence. The deaths of children in these strikes have drawn criticism from human rights advocates and opposition lawmakers, who argue that such actions violate international humanitarian law. The government defends the strikes as necessary to combat illegal armed groups, blaming these groups for using children as human shields. However, critics highlight the lack of effective intelligence and the failure to address systemic issues like forced recruitment. 

Sources: El País, AP News, Reuters, Le Monde, Al Jazeera