Bogota--Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos lifted a suspension of air strikes against the FARC after the Marxist guerrillas were suspected in the killing of 10 soldiers in a pre-dawn attack Wednesday.
The attack in western Colombia, which also left 20 soldiers wounded, was the deadliest since the start of peace talks more than two years ago, officials said.
"I have ordered the armed forces to end the order suspending bombing raids against FARC camps until further notice," said Santos.
"Let this be clear to the FARC: I'm not going to be pressured... by vile acts like this to make a decision on a bilateral ceasefire."
Late last year the FARC declared a unilateral ceasefire in a bid to advance peace talks that have been under way in Havana since November 2012.
Santos has refused to commit to a bilateral ceasefire until there is a comprehensive peace agreement, but had suspended air raids in recognition of the move.
Wednesday's attack occurred in a remote mountainous area in Cauca province, a stronghold of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who have been battling the Bogota government for five decades.
A senior military official said the infantry troops were ambushed as they conducted a patrol.
"They were attacked with explosives, grenades and firearms," General Mario Augusto Valencia, the commander of the army's Third Division, told reporters.
Cauca governor Temistocles Ortega earlier told Blu radio the soldiers came under fire in a hamlet known as La Esperanza.
The wounded were evacuated with the help of the Red Cross and emergency personnel, but bad weather and the remote location were hampering the operation, Valencia said.
AFP
