The Colombian armed forces’ Joint Special Operations Command, along with indigenous volunteers, successfully rescued four children who were lost for 40 days in the Caqueta jungle following a plane crash. General Pedro Sanchez, who led the operation, praised the success of the mission as a combination of indigenous knowledge and military art.
Key Points:
- The rescue mission in the Caqueta jungle was led by the Joint Special Operations Command (CCOES) of the Colombian armed forces, considered equivalent to the US Special Operations Command.
- The operation was a combined effort between the CCOES and indigenous volunteers, described as a successful blend of indigenous knowledge and military skills.
- The CCOES is highly trained, with missions spanning from combating terrorist groups to rescuing civilians in peril. Their involvement in this mission was considered different from their regular combat missions.
- The CCOES is often criticized for its brutality and high risk-taking during operations, and for some alleged links with far-right paramilitaries and drug traffickers. However, in this rescue mission, failure was not an option.
- The rescued children, aged between one and 13, survived a plane crash in the hostile jungle that killed three adults, including their mother. The rescue operation was labeled as accomplishing “the impossible.”
