In a bold move to combat illegal armed groups, the newly inaugurated Colombian president Abelardo de la Espriella ordered a military operation that resulted in the death of suspected rebel leader Hernando Forero Mosquera, also known as 'El ruso.' The operation is part of an extensive crackdown on criminal organizations, including narco-terrorism groups and dissident factions like Frente 28, which originated from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Despite a peace deal signed in 2016, some FARC members refused to comply, leading to the emergence of these dissident groups, primarily involved in cocaine trafficking and illegal mining. The previous president, Gustavo Petro, advocated for a 'total peace' strategy focusing on negotiations, but his attempts at dialogue with armed groups were met with repeated ceasefire breaches and walkouts from talks. De la Espriella, however, has adopted a more combative approach, receiving support from US President Donald Trump. On his first day in office, two explosive devices detonated in Cauca and Cesar provinces, injuring security guards and killing a police officer. The president praised the military for their success in eliminating Forero and emphasized that three more alleged members of the dissident group were killed in the operation. Furthermore, soldiers reportedly killed two alleged members of another criminal group, the Gulf Clan, in a separate offensive. The US State Department has pledged $1bn in security assistance to de la Espriella's government and welcomed Colombia into the US-led alliance 'Shield of the Americas,' a coalition aimed at combating drug trafficking gangs and transnational crime.