( CNN ) -- The leader of Colombia 's main leftist rebel group -- the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -- died in a military operation in the country 's southwest , President Juan Manuel Santos said Saturday . `` I confirm the death of Alfonso Cano . The No . 1 of FARC is dead , '' Santos said . `` This is the most overwhelming blow given to the FARC in all of Colombia 's history . '' The military operation that took place Friday in the state of Cauca also killed Cano 's communications chief , a female friend and members of his security team , Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon told reporters . Cano 's chief of security was captured . `` The death of Alfonso Cano is the most important historical mark of our military forces and our national police in our fight against the FARC organization , '' Pinzon said . `` He was part of the organization for over 33 years . He was their ideologue , their political figure and most importantly , he was a despised terrorist ready to act in a radical way ... '' Cano , an alias for Guillermo Leon Saenz , took over the FARC 's top spot in March 2008 after an apparent heart attack killed the former leader , Manuel Marulanda . Cano 's family released a statement following his death , urging peace and asking the media to respect their privacy . They called on authorities in Colombia , and specifically on President Santos , to allow them the opportunity to give Cano a dignified burial . `` This is great news for all the Colombian people , '' said Labor Minister Rafael Pardo . `` This will help the peace process and it shows that armed conflict is no longer the way forward in Colombia . '' The FARC has been at war with the Colombian government since the 1960s . While severely weakened in recent years , the guerrilla group has continued to carry out kidnappings and attack security forces in the South American nation . Following Cano 's death , the FARC released a statement in which its leaders said they would not end their guerrilla struggle . `` This is not the first time that the oppressed and exploited in Colombia are mourning one of its greatest leaders . Nor is it the first ( time ) that he will be replaced with the courage and absolute conviction of victory . Peace in Colombia will not be born in any guerrilla demobilization , but the abolition of the causes that give birth the upheaval , '' they wrote . Senior officials in the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama said that they believe Cano 's death will pose a serious challenge to the FARC going forward . There are n't many people left to head the group and most of those who might , no longer live in Colombia , they said . The FARC , which began as a revolutionary guerrilla group , has evolved into a narco-trafficking organization , the officials said . While it is no longer able to threaten the state , the FARC still has the potential to hurt a lot of people , they added . The United States and European Union consider the FARC a terrorist organization . `` This is an important victory for Colombia and represents a major blow against the largest terrorist organization in this hemisphere , '' said U.S. State Department spokeswoman Darla Jordan . `` We firmly support the efforts of the Colombian people , their security forces , and President Santos to combat the FARC , '' she said . In July , Santos said Cano escaped an attack by less than a day . At the time , security forces raided a remote camp believed to have been his hideout . After the raid , authorities found clothes they believe belonged to Cano . CNN affiliate Caracol TV reported that authorities also found large quantities of the cigarettes the FARC leader is thought to smoke . `` We were very close , '' the president told reporters at a military airport in Bogota . He said security forces had acted on an intelligence tip from one of Cano 's `` own people . '' CNN 's Claudia Dominguez , Luis Carlos Velez and Elise Labott contributed to this report .
NEW : The FARC says his death does not mean the end of the guerrilla struggle . The FARC leader 's family asks that his death be treated with dignity . President Cano took over the FARC 's top spot in 2008 . President and security forces missed the president by less than a day in victory .