The Mexican army has successfully killed 19 suspected drug cartel gunmen in a shootout in Sinaloa, with no casualties on their side. The confrontation took place in the midst of infighting between two factions of the Sinaloa cartel, resulting in the death of members of the “Mayitos” faction loyal to imprisoned drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
Accusations of past administrations executing suspects without soldiers dying have been addressed by the ruling Morena party. The Defense Department claimed soldiers acted in self-defense and with the highest respect for human rights during the recent shootout.
This incident is the most significant confrontation since the 2014 killing of 22 suspects in Tlatlaya, which resulted in the arrest of soldiers on charges of abuse of authority. The recent shootout highlights the ongoing violence and power struggle within the Mexican drug cartels.
The current round of conflict was triggered by the abduction of Zambada by Joaquín Guzmán López, son of the imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman. The violent clash underscores the complex and dangerous nature of the drug trade in Mexico.
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