A 10-year-old boy was killed and 12 civilians injured when a drone dropped a grenade during a children's football match in southern Cauca, Colombia, marking the first known fatality from a weaponized drone attack in the country.

The incident occurred during a weekly Tuesday evening football match as night fell over the region in 2024. Children were playing when the drone appeared overhead and released an explosive device that detonated among the group.

The attack represents a new development in Colombia's decades-long internal conflict, as armed groups increasingly incorporate drone technology into their operations. The use of weaponized drones adds a dangerous new dimension to the country's ongoing violence.

The incident in southern Cauca highlights how civilians remain vulnerable to escalating tactics in Colombia's protracted conflict. The introduction of drone warfare exposes non-combatants to additional risks as various armed groups adopt new technologies.

Colombia has experienced internal conflict for decades, involving government forces, paramilitary groups, and various insurgent organizations. The conflict has affected rural and urban areas across the country, with civilians often caught in the crossfire of competing armed factions.