Two soldiers were killed and three others injured in clashes between the Colombian army and rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the southern province of Cauca.

The Colombian army said in a statement today that two soldiers were killed and three others injured in clashes between its elements and FARC guerillas prompting Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos to order a resumption of air strikes against the rebels.

The clashed which occurred in a remote mountainous area was one of the deadliest since the government opened peace talks with FARC Cuba in November 2012.