A wave of violence erupted in Mexico today after the killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Rubén “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, as heavily armed cartel fighters launched retaliatory attacks against Mexican security forces attempting to secure territory following the raid.
Authorities said troops came under sustained gunfire, forcing a major military response involving Special Forces, Air Force aircraft and National Guard rapid-reaction units.
During the operation, forces seized an alarming cache of weapons including armoured vehicles and rocket launchers capable of shooting down aircraft — equipment more commonly seen on battlefields than in criminal policing operations.
The discovery underscored longstanding concerns about CJNG’s evolution into a paramilitary-style organisation, capable of deploying organised combat units, blocking highways and confronting state forces directly.
The cartel’s firepower mirrors its notorious 2015 attack in which rocket-propelled grenades were used to down a Mexican military helicopter, reinforcing fears that El Mencho’s death has exposed both the scale of the group’s arsenal and its willingness to respond with overwhelming violence.
Looks like the Mexican military right? Nope! That is the cartel’s “special forces” unit.
If you want to truly understand the current state of Mexico… notice how the bad guys have no problem showing their faces on camera while the good guys hide behind masks! pic.twitter.com/MtSKXF1rWO
— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) February 22, 2026
