Twelve bodyguards of Farc rebel Guillermo Saenz have died in an army attack, including the rebels' top female commander, officials say.
Commandos launched a surprise raid on a base of the rebels' supreme leader in central Colombia's Tolima mountains.
Colombia's army chief said it was a severe blow to the Farc, which has been fighting the state since the 1960s.
In separate clashes between troops and rebels over the weekend, 10 soldiers died, officials said.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe congratulated the special forces team for the operation, which is said to have taken place in the early hours of Sunday.
Mr Uribe said: "I can confirm that one of the guerrillas killed in the operation was a woman named Magaly. She was responsible for the deaths of at least 70 soldiers and police officers."
He was referring to Magaly Grannobles, who commanded a rebel unit.
The commander of Colombia's armed forces, Gen Freddy Padilla, described her as "an extremely dangerous criminal and a trusted confidante of the Farc leader".
Gen Padilla said the killing of the Farc bodyguards was "a decisive move against the security apparatus that guards the leadership of the Farc".
By: Brant
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