Kfir fighter jets fly over Ocaña and Cúcuta after Catatumbo drone attack

The roar of supersonic fighter jets startled residents of Ocaña and Cúcuta in the early hours of Sept. 6. Kfir aircraft from the Colombian Aerospace Force flew at very low altitude over the cities and the Catatumbo region after a weekend marked by renewed violence.

The patrols followed an attack late Friday on the El Trapiche Military Canton in Ocaña. Illegal armed groups used drones loaded with explosives to strike the military facility, killing three service members and triggering heavy clashes around the base. The attack was attributed to the ELN.

Senior military and National Police commanders traveled to the municipality to assess the security situation. Authorities then adjusted the public security deployment, placing Ocaña at the center of operations intended to protect a strategic entry point to Catatumbo.

The Colombian government and Defense Ministry described the air activity as part of continuing surveillance operations. The broader objective is to maintain an institutional presence and regain territorial control in an area that has long been affected by armed conflict.

The low flights quickly drew reactions online. Some local users wrote that Kfir aircraft were conducting patrols over Catatumbo and Ocaña, while saying the security forces were maintaining a permanent presence in a region hit by violence. Other residents also commented on the impact of the military deployment.