Colombia air strike kills eight, including Gulf Clan leader Haminton Mosquera

Eight people died in an air strike on the Gulf Clan in Antioquia, north-west Colombia, according to President Abelardo de la Espriella. Among the dead is Haminton Mosquera, a senior member of the gang and one of 10 priority targets for Colombia's security forces. De la Espriella said he personally authorised the bombing and that Mosquera had been 'brought down'.

In a post on X, the president said Mosquera was suspected of ordering attacks on security forces, including the killing of a police officer in the municipality of Tarazá last year. De la Espriella was elected in June after campaigning on a promise to hit Colombia's criminal gangs hard, air strikes included. He said the offensive 'won't stop' and pledged to take back areas controlled by groups like the Gulf Clan.

The Gulf Clan has run criminal operations for decades, trafficking cocaine to the US and Europe alongside illegal mining and people smuggling. Washington added it to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organisations last year.

The crackdown has been welcomed by many Colombians living where extortion and gang violence are routine, but de la Espriella has drawn criticism for how he announces security operations. Less than a month into office he posted a video of himself walking among 23 body bags holding the remains of people killed in an air strike on a suspected guerrilla camp. On Wednesday he shared a photo of himself writing his campaign slogan, 'Welcome to the miracle homeland', on a bomb.