Colombia · JUSTICE

A family court in Bogotá ordered a temporary halt to offensive air operations when credible information suggests minors are present. The government is appealing.

Soldiers atop a military helicopter in Colombia. A court has suspended offensive air operations where recruited children may be present. (Photo: The Rio Times archive.)

A Colombian court has suspended offensive air operations against camps where recruited children may be present. The government is appealing the order and has called it absurd.

Court Order Details

On September 3, 2026, Bogotá’s Juzgado 34 de Familia issued a precautionary order, or medida cautelar. It directed the Presidency, Defense Ministry, and military commands to suspend offensive air operations under certain conditions.

The order applies when there is certain, objective, or reasonably verifiable information about the presence of recruited minors. The court said authorities must refrain from such operations until protective measures are in place.

Legal Basis

The ruling stems from a constitutional rights petition called an ‘acción de tutela’. Ower Jimmy Borda Parra filed it on behalf of minors in areas affected by bombings.

The court cited the need to protect children’s fundamental rights. It also required considering less harmful operational alternatives in military actions.

Government Reaction

On September 4, 2026, Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara confirmed the government will appeal. He called the ruling ‘absurdo e inconstitucional’ (absurd and unconstitutional).

The appeal is pending, and the suspension remains in force as of that date. No higher court has reversed or modified the order yet.

Context of Air Strikes

The order follows recent bombings that killed minors. On August 31, 2026, Medicina Legal confirmed three minors died in an August 27 strike in El Retorno, Guaviare.

Colombian outlets reported three offensive air operations in three weeks, from August 10 to August 30. They described the strikes as part of the government’s security strategy.

The government defended the operation after the deaths were confirmed.

Child Recruitment Issue

Armed groups in Colombia recruit minors, a serious human rights concern. The ombudsman’s office, Defensoría del Pueblo, reported 428 cases in 2025 and 97 cases as of July 31, 2026.

International law requires protecting children in conflict. The court’s order aims to prevent harm to minors during offensive air operations.

What the Order Says

The court’s wording, as reported by Infobae, tells the authorities to refrain from offensive air operations on certain targets.

Those are targets where there is certain, objective or reasonably verifiable information that armed groups have recruited or are using children there.

This applies when such information exists about children recruited or used by armed groups.

The restriction lasts until precautionary measures are adopted and verified, and no less harmful alternative exists. This is a temporary measure while the court decides the underlying case.

The government announced its appeal on September 4, 2026. Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara’s statement was reported by Infobae.

As of now, the suspension remains in effect. The appeal’s outcome is not yet known.

Impact on Military Operations

The order does not ban all offensive air operations. It only affects operations where credible information suggests minors are present.

Military forces must verify information and consider alternatives. This could slow some offensive air operations but not stop the overall campaign.

International humanitarian law prohibits targeting civilians, including children. Armed groups recruiting minors is a war crime.

States have an obligation to protect children in conflict zones. The court’s order aligns with these principles.

Recent Bombing Incidents

The government reported on September 1, 2026 that a strike in Miraflores, Guaviare, killed 20 fighters. Officials called it the deadliest strike in years.

The government has defended these operations as necessary against guerrilla groups. Critics argue they risk civilian lives, especially children.

Three offensive air operations took place in August 2026, in Catatumbo, El Retorno and Miraflores. The August 27 strike in El Retorno, Guaviare, killed three minors, confirmed by Medicina Legal.

Colombian Army soldiers in formation. The government is appealing the court’s order. (Photo: The Rio Times archive.)

What Happens Next

The appeal will be heard by a higher court. Until then, the precautionary suspension stands.

The underlying tutela case will also continue. The final decision could set a precedent for future offensive air operations.

Reactions and Analysis

Human rights groups may welcome the order as a protective measure. The government sees it as an obstacle to offensive air operations.

The ruling highlights the tension between military objectives and child protection. It remains to be seen how the appeal will resolve this.

How the Legal Process Works

A family court, not a high court, issued the ruling. It is a precautionary order in a ‘tutela’ case, a fast legal action any citizen can file to protect fundamental rights.

The court’s order is temporary. It stays in force until the judge decides the main case, which is about whether the government violated minors’ rights.

The ruling came from a family court, not a high court, through a constitutional rights petition called an ‘acción de tutela’. This process lets any citizen ask a judge to protect fundamental rights, even against military actions.

The judge issued a temporary order while deciding the case. The government can appeal, but the order stays in force until a higher court changes it.

As of 4 September 2026, no higher court had ruled on the appeal.

Who Filed the Case

Ower Jimmy Borda Parra filed the ‘tutela’ on behalf of minors living in areas hit by bombings. He claimed the government and armed forces violated the children’s rights.

The case is now in the 34th Family Court of Bogotá. The court has not yet made a final decision on the rights violation claim.

Borda Parra acted as an ‘agente oficioso’, a legal representative for others. The case is still pending a final decision on the merits.

What the Order Says in Plain Language

The order tells the Presidency, Ministry of Defense, and military commands to stop offensive air operations. They must do so when credible information shows minors are present.

They must also consider less harmful ways to reach their military goals.

They must first adopt protective measures and assess if a less harmful method exists to achieve the military objective.

The order does not ban all bombings. It only applies to targets with verified information about recruited or used children.

The Government’s Reaction

On 4 September 2026, Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara called the ruling ‘absurdo e inconstitucional’ and said the government will appeal. His quote appears in an Infobae headline.

The government had defended an offensive air operation that killed three minors, confirmed by the forensic institute on 31 August 2026. The appeal is pending, and the suspension remains in force.

Child Recruitment Numbers

Colombia’s ombudsman’s office, the Defensoría del Pueblo, reported 428 cases of child recruitment by armed groups in 2025. As of 31 July 2026, there were 97 cases in 2026.

These numbers show the scale of the problem. The court’s order aims to protect children who might be in bombing areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the Colombian court order?

The court ordered a temporary halt to offensive air operations when credible information suggests minors are present. This applies to specific targets, not all strikes.

Why did the court issue this order?

A citizen filed a constitutional rights petition on behalf of minors. The court sought to protect children’s fundamental rights during military operations.

Is the government appealing?

Yes, Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara announced an appeal on September 4, 2026. He called the ruling ‘absurdo’ (absurd).

Does this ban all air strikes?

No, it only affects strikes where there is verifiable information about minors. The order requires considering less harmful alternatives.

Sources: Infobae; France 24; El Colombiano; Cambio Colombia; El Espectador; La República.