The rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Thursday released three oil company workers in the southwest, after government troops launched a military operation. German Giraldo, commander of the army's 6th brigade, said the rebels freed the hostages in a forested area in La Fraguita in the Cauca Department.
"The three workers are fine, safe and sound. We launched a full operation by air and on land," commander of the army's 27th Forest Brigade, Col. Juvenal Diaz, told local media.
The trio, identified as Luis Miguel Figueroa, Cesar Galeano and Hembrer Garcia, were taken to the southern town of Mocoa to reunite with their families, Diaz said.The three workers of the Gran Tierra Energy oil company were taken captives Wednesday when they were driving along a highway on the outskirts of the southern town of Piamonte.
Also Thursday, at least four Colombian soldiers were killed and six wounded in separate rebel attacks. No group claimed responsibility for the attacks yet, which took place after the rebels ended a 60-day unilateral cease-fire in January.
There have been tensions between FARC rebels and Colombian government and observers fear the recent clashes may jeopardize the ongoing peace talks in Havana, Cuba.