A mission to rescue two hostages held by the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) started early on Thursday, said Irma Álvarez, the spokeswoman for the Red Cross International Committee in Venezuela.

"The operation is under way. The aircrafts departed for Colombia," Álvarez said, as quoted by AFP. The mission "is coordinated by the two governments (Colombia's and Venezuela's) and jointly with the FARC, which are going to release the two hostages."

"For logistic reasons, we cannot provide further information right now. This is a delicate operation, and therefore we are asking people to be patient," Álvarez added.