Colombia unveils first combat rifle amid diplomatic rift with US, Israel

Colombian officials said on Monday that the country had produced its first combat rifle, a cheaper, lighter weapon aimed at replacing the arms that were once supplied by its former military ally, Israel.
Leftist President Gustavo Petro broke ties with Israel last year to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
State-owned weapons manufacturer Indumil produced the arms – the first combat rifle manufactured in Colombia – to replace the Galil, a…