Six Colombian police officers were killed and seven injured Thursday in clashes with the country's biggest drug cartel, which used a drone to down a police helicopter, the security forces said.
The attack took place as the police were overseeing the eradication of coca crops -- coca leaves are the main ingredient in cocaine -- in northwestern Antioquia department, home to the city of Medellin.
Images shared on social media showed the helicopter caught in crossfire before being hit by the drone and crashing to the ground in a cloud of black smoke.
It was not clear whether the dead officers were killed in the crash or on the ground.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez initially blamed the attack on the Gulf Clan, Colombia's biggest drug cartel, which has killed dozens of security force members since 2023.
But he later said the attack was the work of dissidents of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which agreed to lay down arms in 2016.
President Gustavo Petro too blamed a faction of the EMC guerrilla group.
Colombia is enduring its worst outburst of violence since the leftist FARC guerrilla army, one of the world's oldest rebel movements, signed a peace deal with the government in 2016.
The left-wing Petro came to office in 2022 on a promise to pursue "total peace" in Colombia by engaging in dialogue with all remaining armed groups.
But during that time, several groups have grown stronger and expanded the rural territories under their control.
Earlier this month, Petro announced the resumption of peace talks with the country's biggest drug cartel, the Gulf Clan.
The talks are taking place in Qatar.
