Colombian Army officials say 17 soldiers were killed when rebels ambushed a Colombian army convoy traveling through northeastern Arauca state late Wednesday.
Colombian General Reinaldo Castellanos says the troops were moving along the road near the town of Tame when they were attacked by explosives and gunfire.
General Castellanos blamed the attack on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels. The group has been blamed for a series of attacks in recent weeks. At least 10 soldiers were killed in a similar ambush March 23rd.
The FARC, along with a smaller rebel group and rightist paramilitaries, is locked in a long-running war with the government that kills thousands of people each year.