Watch Operacion Jaque

Operacion Jaque was a Spanish television special broadcasted by TVE back in September 2010. The show told the story of the extraordinary rescue mission carried out by the Colombian army to free hostages held by FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The operation took place on July 2nd, 2008, and made international headlines. FARC had been holding a group of people, including politicians, military personnel, and American defense contractors, hostage for more than six years in the Colombian jungle. The hostages were living in harsh conditions, had little food, and were constantly under the threat of execution.

The rescue mission became necessary when the Colombian intelligence agency discovered the location of the hostages' camp. The show narrated how the intelligence agency, with the help of CIA, passed the information to the Colombian army, who started planning the rescue strategy.

The rescue mission was named Operacion Jaque, meaning operation checkmate, because the Colombian army pretended to be different FARC guerilla cells, bluffing them into believing that they were being moved to the new base. In reality, they were being taken to freedom.

The show had several interviews with the people involved in the mission, including high-ranking government officials, army personnel, and the rescued hostages. They described how the operation was meticulously planned and executed, with the help of state-of-the-art technology and intelligence gathering.

The show also had access to the archives of the Colombian army and showed never-before-seen footage of the hostages the day before the mission, their captivity, and their rescue. The images were poignant, showing the physical and psychological damage, the hostages had to endure over the years. One of the hostages, Ingrid Betancourt, was interviewed and talked about her experiences with a sense of disbelief that she survived.

Apart from the main story of the rescue mission, the show also highlighted how the rescue mission affected Colombian society and politics. The Colombian public, who had been demanding the release of the hostages for years, was relieved and proud of the success of the mission. The rescue also gave a much-needed political boost to the Colombian president, Alvaro Uribe.

Operacion Jaque was a thrilling and heart-warming show that recounted an incredible military operation underlining the importance of collaboration & excellent planning, and brave execution. The rescue operation was successful, and all the hostages were freed alive, including the three Americans held captive for over five years. The show had high production value, with excellent writing and editing, making it a must-watch for anyone interested in military operations and human stories of survival.