The Colombian military said Friday it had killed a unit commander of the country’s largest armed rebel group FARC.
President Juan Manuel Santos congratulated the military for killing Anibal Herrera, or “Tomate,” alleged to be the leader of the Alirio Torres fighters unit that is active in western Colombia where the attack took place.
The president added on Twitter that “Tomate” is the 55th killed rebel commander since he took office in August 2010.
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A second guerrilla was also killed in the attack. Five were injured.
The military claimed the capture of the alleged second in command of the rebel unit active in the Valle del Cauca department earlier this week.
The FARC, Colombia’s largest and longest-living Marxist rebel group, has been negotiating peace with the government since 2012. Violence is ongoing however as the warring parties have failed to reach consensus over a bilateral ceasefire for the duration of the talks.