Attacks against Colombian oilfield cause oil spill

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Two pipelines run by state-owned Colombian oil company Ecopetrol were attacked in Barrancabermeja, in the northern department of Santander, causing oil spills onto vegetation, the company said on Monday.

Ecopetrol called on those responsible for the attack that took place late on Sunday "to end these crimes against the infrastructure that put people's integrity at risk, generate serious consequences to the environment and affect the activities of the communities and the oil industry".

Colombian Army General, Luis Fernando Navarro, said in a press conference that the “terrorist” attack in Ecopetrol's Cira Infantas field is a possible act of revenge for the arrests last week of two ELN guerrilla leaders.

The National Liberation Army (ELN) is the last active guerrilla organization operating in the country after the government signed a peace agreement with the main rebel group, FARC in 2016.

Early on Saturday, five Colombian soldiers were killed and six were wounded in an attack by the ELN rebels, the army reported.

President Ivan Duque said on Twitter that the armed forces would dismantle the criminal groups that are responsible for the attacks. ​​​​​​​

"These cowardly acts are the product of despair in the face of military pressure. For the memory of our heroes, we will continue attacking narco-terrorism and dismantling its structures," he said.

The United States and European Union consider the ELN a terrorist group.​​​​​​​