Colombia military says airstrikes kill 19 guerrillas

Top Colombian military officers on Tuesday revealed a deadly offensive against a drug-running guerrilla group, saying airstrikes had killed 19 fighters in the country's Amazon region.

The strikes -- which targeted a dissident ex-FARC splinter group -- came as President Gustavo Petro faces pre-election criticism and US sanctions for his alleged reluctance to target armed cocaine-trafficking groups.

Admiral Francisco Cubides said the strikes occurred "at dawn on November 10" and resulted in "19 terrorists killed," as well as one person captured and military equipment seized.

He said the airstrike was a response to an "imminent" rebel attack on military targets.

Petro said he ordered the "bombing and military dissolution" of the group

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