Colombian military killed 3,500 this year

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BOGOTA, July 6 (UPI) -- A government report indicates Colombia's armed forces this year killed more than 3,500 people officials said were engaged in criminal or rebel activity.

The government released details of approximately 8,000 operations that also resulted in the arrests of more than 2,500 individuals, El Espectador reported Wednesday.

The report estimates more than 1,000 killings were members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, better known by its acronym FARC.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said the military intensified its offensive against the left-wing guerrilla organization and other illegal armed groups.

"Sooner or later FARC is going to fall, as all of their leaders are going to fall, as they have been falling," Santos said.

FARC's numbers have dwindled to fewer than 8,000 from a peak of about 17,000 in 2002.