Fifteen Colombian soldiers have been killed in two separate incidents involving the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Authorities said Wednesday that the heaviest combat took place in the southern Meta province, where 12 soldiers were killed. The second clash that left three soldiers dead happened in the Valle province, also in southern Colombia.
An undetermined number of rebels was killed in the fighting.
For about 42 years, the FARC and a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army, have been fighting the Colombian government in a conflict that has left thousands dead.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.