Drone attacks carried out by armed groups in Colombia surged 146 percent in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, the country's Ombudsman's Office reported on Thursday. The attacks killed 21 people and wounded 145 others — nearly a third of them civilians, including children — while also striking homes, schools, and critical infrastructure, with the psychological toll extending far beyond casualties as the recurring sound of drones has driven displacement and disrupted daily life in conflict-affected communities. The escalation is part of a broader armed conflict between illegal groups and government forces backed by the United States, with both sides now deploying drones; Colombia's government announced a $1.68bn anti-drone shield programme in January and has itself used grenade-launching drones in recent military operations.