A police officer stands guard by a charred vehicle after it was set on fire, on a road in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, Sunday. AP/Alejandra Leyva
Mexico news LIVE updates: Massive security operations in Mexico’s western state of Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, killing drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as ‘El Mencho’. El Mencho was the shadowy leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), an outfit named for the western state of Guadalajara, home to one of the biggest Mexican cities.
Mexico’s defense ministry said that Oseguera was left seriously injured in a shootout in Jalisco, and he died during an air transfer to Mexico City, adding that US authorities had provided “complementary information”.
The security operation in the state comes as the country’s government has been increasing the pressure on cartels following threats of a US intervention. The operation also triggered a set of violence, with cars being torched and gunmen blocking the highways in over half a dozen states.
Washington welcomed the killing of El Mencho, with the US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau saying that Oseguera’s death is a “great development” for the US and Mexico, as well as Latin America.
Meanwhile, the US State Department issued a “shelter in place” alert for its citizens in parts of Mexico amid criminal activity and a tiff.
What’s happening in Mexico | Key points
– Several vehicles were set on fire across Jalisco on Sunday after a federal security operation, said governor Pablo Lemus Navarro. He did not specify the groups involved or provide further information on the operation.
– The Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho, ” on Sunday, reducing one of Mexico’s most powerful cartels into shambles.
– El Mencho was wounded during security forces’ bid to capture him in Tapala, Jalisco, on Sunday, and died while being flown to Mexico City.
– During the operation, the security troops came under fire and left four people dead at the location. Three more people, including Oseguera, were injured and later died.
– El Mencho’s death sparked off several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states. Cartels usually employ this tactic to block military operations.
Mexico news today LIVE: Around 20 people killed during Mexican operation, including El Mencho
Mexico news today LIVE: As per reports, along with El Mencho, four others will killed during the raid in Jalisco. The death toll during the raid later increased to 7 with the death of three others, including the CJNG drug lord, who were critically wounded.
Furthermore, according to an AP report citing state officials, at least seven National Guard members were killed in Tapalpa and Zapopan.
A jail guard was also killed at a lockup in Puerto Vallarta when prisoners rioted and an agent from the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office was killed in Guadalajara.
An official statement regarding the death toll in the Mexican operation is awaited.
Mexico news today LIVE: Embassy debunks fake video of fire at Guadalajara Airport
Mexico news today LIVE: Shortly after clahses erupted across Mexico after the killing of drug lord El Mencho, videos of a fire or possible shootout at Guadalajara Airport emerged online.
However, the Mexican Embassy in the US has debunked these videos and said they are fake and generated through artificial intelligence.
“It Is FALSE that a plane caught fire at Guadalajara Airport. The image circulating on social media showing a plane allegedly belonging to Volaris on fire in Guadalajara, Jalisco, is false and was generated using Artificial Intelligence,” the embassy wrote on social media platform X.
“Guadalajara Airport reported on February 22, 2026, that “no incidents have been recorded within the facilities,” and there is no record of any Volaris aircraft catching fire,” it added further.
Several roads were blocked and multiple vehicles were set on fire with smoke billowing from parts of roads across Mexico’s Jalisco after drug lord El Mencho was killed during a federal security operation on Sunday.
Mexico news today LIVE: What is happening in Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta? | At-a-glance brief
Here’s what is happening in Mexico’s Jalisco:
- Mexican forces launch federal security operation to target a massive drug kingpin.
- Mexican authorities confirm that top cartel lord, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel known as “El Mencho”, was killed in the federal security operation.
- Violence erupts in parts of Mexico’s Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Tapalpa, following the death of the CJNG leader, with roadblocks and vehicles being set ablaze across towns.
- US and Canada issue ‘shelter in place’ security alerts for their citizens in Mexico amid growing tensions after El Mencho’s killing.
- Operations at the Guadalajara airport were said to be functioning normally.
- Several US and Canadian airlines cancelled their flights to Mexico, mainly Jalisco and Puerto Vallarta, amid the unrest in the country.
- Mexican Preisdent Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents to stay calm and informed, saying that “there is absolute coordination with governments in every state”.Hindustantimes
