A Venezuelan military strike on a camp sheltering an element of Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) in western Venezuela killed at least 19 people on October 30. Anonymous U.S. officials told The New York Times that the operation relied on U.S. intelligence and drones. No government has officially claimed the strike or acknowledged a U.S. role.

The strike hit an area near the hamlet of Buena Vista del Meta, in Pedro Camejo municipality in Apure state, on the Venezuelan side of the border with Colombia’s Vichada department. It came early on Friday according to Colombian outlets.

El Colombiano, referring to a military source cited by AFP, reported that attack helicopters and drones were used and that planning began about a month earlier. The camp was reportedly caught off guard. The NYT described the site as a known ELN cocaine distribution center and airstrip area, and said residents heard two large explosions that morning.

Venezuelan rights group, Fundaredes, first reported nine dead, then raised the number to at least 19 after more bodies were moved to San Fernando de Apure. In the NYT’s account, the group put the toll at at least 23, with many more injured.

Fewer than half of the victims had been identified as of Monday. Some of the wounded reportedly crossed into Colombia.

Most of the dead are reportedly Venezuelan, and some carried Venezuelan identity documents rather than Colombian ones. Two Dominican nationals with Venezuelan IDs were also among those identified. Fundaredes coordinator Juan Francisco García published four names taken from documents recovered by residents.

None is a known ELN leader, and the names are not officially confirmed.

According to the The New York Times report, the dead include pilots, goods suppliers and relatives or partners of ELN members, and Fundaredes says not all victims were combatants.

García demanded an investigation, verifiable identification of the dead and notification of families.

Reported U.S. Role

Four U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, told The New York Times the attack was carried out with U.S. intelligence and drones. One said the drone type is usually flown by U.S. forces, though who flew them is unclear. A military source cited by AFP said CIA and FBI personnel helped with intelligence and terrain mapping, which El Colombiano says is unconfirmed.

The State Department referred questions to the Defense Department, which referred them to the Venezuelan government.

A senior Venezuelan military official told the NYT the armed forces carried out the attack but said he had no direct information about U.S. participation. Colombian defense officials denied any role. Venezuela’s government has made no public statement, and the ELN has not commented.

Analysts cited by El Colombiano describe the strike as a change in Venezuela’s military approach since the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January and the interim presidency of Delcy Rodríguez. The NYT’s Venezuelan source said units were encouraged to target the ELN only after Maduro left power.

The strike also fits Washington’s stated line. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in September that the ELN could no longer operate with impunity in Venezuela.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said after an October strike on a boat allegedly linked to the group that it would be hunted down. The ELN is estimated at about 6,000 fighters.

Possible Death Of Commander?

Colombian media have now raised the possibility that ELN commander Silvana Guerrero, a leader of the group’s Northeastern War Front and a priority target of Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, was killed. El Nuevo Siglo says there is no official confirmation.

Colombian intelligence reported on October 30 that she was moving toward the Venezuelan Amazon to evade military operations.

Fundaredes ties similar incidents in Bolívar state and the Meta and Orinoco river area to disputes over control of bauxite and coltan mining zones. It also reported clashes and explosive-laden drones near the Bauxilium camp in Cedeño municipality, Bolívar, where mining work was reportedly suspended.

La Jornada reported that a military source attributed the strike to U.S. mining interests.

That claim is unverified.

What Remains Unknown

Neither government has given an official account of the strike, its target or its casualties. The toll comes from one NGO and is still being identified.

The U.S. role rests on anonymous sources, and who flew the drones is unclear. The strike also came as The New York Times reported U.S.-Venezuela talks on a status of forces agreement, though no source links the two.