UPDATE 2 - 7 cartel members killed as Mexican forces take down CJNG leader 'El Mencho'

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By Jorge Antonio Rocha and Yasin Gungor

MEXICO CITY/ISTANBUL (AA)—Seven members of Mexico's New Generation Jalisco Cartel (CJNG) were killed, including the group's leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," during a military operation carried out by Mexican Army Special Forces in the western state of Jalisco on Sunday.

Mexico's Defense Ministry stated that Special Forces, in collaboration with the National Intelligence Center and the Attorney General's Office, planned and carried out the operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, a known CJNG stronghold, deploying multiple Air Force aircraft and National Guard units with the aim of apprehending Oseguera.

"During this operation, Mexican military personnel were attacked, and in defense of their physical integrity, they repelled the aggression. This resulted in four members of the 'CJNG' criminal group dying at the scene and three others being severely wounded, who lost their lives during their airlift to Mexico City," the ministry said. "Among the latter is Ruben "N" (alias Mencho); however, the corresponding authorities will be in charge of the forensic activities to confirm his identification."

The ministry added that two other cartel members were arrested and various weapons and armored vehicles were seized, including rocket launchers capable of shooting down aircraft.

Three special forces members were wounded during the operation and transported to medical facilities in Mexico City.

The ministry said the operation was carried out with the "information was provided by U.S. authorities within the framework of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the United States."

Both the US and Mexican governments had offered rewards, $15 million and 300 million Mexican pesos, respectively, for information leading to his capture.

Oseguera led the CJNG from its origins as an armed offshoot of the now-defunct Milenio Cartel before it grew into one of Mexico's most powerful and violent criminal organizations. A former police officer, he rose to prominence in the early 1990s and became notorious for the cartel's extreme brutality and its expanding role in the global drug trade.

- Violent backlash

The killing triggered an immediate and widespread violent response, with road blockades, burning vehicles, and armed clashes reported across multiple states where the CJNG operates, including Tamaulipas, Michoacan, and Nayarit.

In Jalisco, Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro issued a red alert, suspended public transportation, and ordered the cancellation of all large public events on Sunday. He also announced that in-person classes across the state would be cancelled on Monday.

Mexico's Security Cabinet said security forces from central Mexico and neighboring states are being deployed to reinforce Jalisco. It added that the state's airports are operational, though most departures from Puerto Vallarta Airport have been reported as cancelled, with some arrivals also affected.

- Foreign warnings

The violence also prompted warnings from foreign governments.

The US urged its citizens in several Mexican states to shelter in place, including Jalisco, covering Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara, as well as Tamaulipas, parts of Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau welcomed the operation. "This is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world," he said, while acknowledging the backlash. "I'm watching the scenes of violence from Mexico with great sadness and concern. It's not surprising that the bad guys are responding with terror. But we must never lose our nerve."

Canada's Foreign Ministry has warned of violence and roadblocks in Jalisco, as well as a shelter-in-place in effect in Puerto Vallarta, urging Canadians to keep a low profile and follow local authorities. Air Canada has suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta, citing the "ongoing security situation."