Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A top commander of the rebel group Farc has been killed in a military raid on his jungle camp in one of the biggest blows against the insurgency, the Colombian government said.
The death of Mono Jojoy is a political and military victory for President Juan Manuel Santos, a former defence minister who came to office in August vowing to keep up a hard line with the guerrillas.
The Farc, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, is at its weakest in decades after eight years of a US-backed security campaign. "The symbol of terrorism in Colombia has fallen," President Santos said in New York where he was attending the United Nations General Assembly. "To the rest of the Farc, we are coming after you, we are not going to let down our guard."
The loss of Jojoy, the Farc's military chief who was also known as Jorge Suarez Briceno, will be a severe blow to the rebel's strategic capacity. But guerrilla units remain a threat in rural areas where the state presence is still weak.
Jojoy was killed in an air strike involving more than 30 aircraft and helicopters. As many as 20 other rebels were killed in the operation in the Macarena region, one of the Farc's last strongholds. His hidden camp was a warren of tunnels including a concrete bunker, the Defence Minister told reporters.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments