Khaberni - The White House warned on Tuesday, Mexican drug gangs against harming any American citizen, amid ongoing violence in different Mexican states following the killing of one of the country's biggest drug cartel leaders.
White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt said on Tuesday: "We urge all Americans in Mexico to adhere to the guidance issued by the State Department. To date, we are not aware of any reports of injury, kidnapping, or deaths of any Americans."
She added, in her conversation for the "Fox and Friends" program: "Mexican drug gangs are well aware that they should not touch a single American or they will face severe consequences under this president’s tenure, and they are indeed paying the price already."
She also considered that "this operation, carried out successfully by the Mexican authorities with support from the United States, would not have happened without President Trump's leadership."
On Monday, the Mexican authorities deployed 10,000 troops in the state of Jalisco, western Mexico, in an attempt to contain a wave of violence that erupted following the death of Nemesio Oseguera, leader of the "Jalisco New Generation" cartel, also known as "El Mencho", in a military operation.
The Mexican army announced that Oseguera was injured during an operation in the Tabalpa region of Jalisco and died while being air transported to Mexico City. His death was followed by attacks and violent acts attributed to cartel members in about 20 states.
According to the Mexican government, approximately 25 security personnel, including members of the National Guard and a prosecutor's office employee, were killed, along with 30 cartel gunmen, during the confrontations following the military operation. A woman was also killed during the violence.
In Jalisco, gunmen blocked main roads using flaming vehicles, while stores and schools closed their doors in Guadalajara, the country's second-largest city, which saw less crowded streets amid fears of escalating unrest.
Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the removal of the roadblocks set up by the gunmen, emphasizing that "protecting the population is a priority" and that "the country is calm and peaceful," denying any American forces’ participation in the operation, alluding only to an exchange of intelligence.
Oseguera (59 years old) was among the most wanted by the United States, which offered a reward of up to 15 million dollars for information leading to his arrest. Notably, the "Jalisco New Generation" cartel, founded in 2009, is considered one of the strongest drug trafficking networks in the world.
