Top 5 blows to Colombia's FARC: Where does 'Alfonso Cano' killing rank?

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) began to face major setbacks when former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe took office in 2002. The effort continues under current President Juan Manuel Santos. Top leaders have been captured and thousands of members have demobilized. Here is what Colombia has accomplished against the FARC in the past three years.

5. Rescue of Ingrid Betancourt, other top hostages

teleSUR/AP
In this image made from video by Colombian television station teleSUR, Ingrid Betancourt reacts upon landing in Bogota after being rescued from six years in captivity July 2, 2008.

The rescue of high-profile French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, along with 14 other top hostages who the FARC had held in jungle camps for years, was a major coup for the Colombian government in July 2008.

The military rescued the hostages, which included three Americans, in a high-risk operation made successful by the infiltration of the highest levels of the FARC.

Many analysts said the group would never recover from the blow. (President Santos was defense minister at the time.)  

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