Six "
terrorists
" members of "
armed groups
" were killed and 39 captured in the fighting and operations of the Venezuelan army in southern Venezuela, on the border with Colombia, according to a new report announced on Saturday by the Minister of defense.
A previous official report of these clashes, which began a week ago, reported Monday two Venezuelan soldiers killed and 26 fighters captured, but without giving the opposing losses.
"
To date, the general toll is six terrorists neutralized, 27 suspects presented to the Military Tribunal and 12 others arrested yesterday (Friday, editor's note),
" Minister Vladimir Padrino said on public television.
"
Weapons, grenades, ammunition, explosives, uniforms, vehicles, drugs and technological equipment containing information on their activities
" were seized, added Mr. Padrino.
According to him, these armed groups benefit from the aid of the "
Colombian government and the CIA
", which Venezuela regularly accuses of wanting to destabilize it.
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More than 3,000 people have fled to Colombia as a result of the fighting, according to Bogota.
From a security source in Colombia, these "armed groups" are dissidents of the former Colombian guerrilla forces of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).
Although most of the 13,000 members of the former Marxist guerrilla have laid down their arms, “
dissident
”
factions
have marginalized themselves from the peace process signed in 2016 in Colombia.
These groups without a unified command, financed by drug trafficking and clandestine mines, have strengthened in isolated areas, according to Colombian military intelligence.