Israeli aid delegation arrives in Colombia to assist with post-quake rescue operations

An 80-person Israeli aid delegation, comprising officials from the IDF, Defense Ministry, and Foreign Affairs Ministry, arrived in Cali, Colombia, on Friday to assist with rescue operations following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake earlier in the week. The mission, dubbed the “Alliance of Friends,” was dispatched at the request of newly appointed Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella. Colombia has requested rescue teams from only four countries: the US, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Israel. Foreign Ministry representative Alon Lavi and IDF rescue unit commander Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Yossi Pinto immediately began assessing the situation in Cali, one of the hardest-hit cities. As of Friday morning, approximately 400 people remained missing, with the death toll at 285 and around 4,000 injured.