STORY: Scenes of burning vehicles and vandalized stores spread on Sunday (February 22) in Mexico following the killing of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as "El Mencho," in a military raid.

In Southern Oaxaca, footage showed a vehicle ablaze in Istmo de Tehuantepec. The state governor, Salomon Jara, said that following the events in the area and the north of the country, he had ordered an extraordinary deployment of security forces in the area, including checkpoints.

In central Guanajuato state, attacks have been reported in different cities, with the state governor, Libia Dennise Garcia, informing authorities were monitoring the situation.

Mexico's defence ministry said a shootout in the western state of Jalisco left Oseguera seriously injured and that he died during an air transfer to Mexico City. The ministry noted that U.S. authorities had provided "complementary information."

The operation set off a wave of violence, with torched cars and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states.

Videos on social media showed cars ablaze, sending dark smoke into the sky, on roads in Jalisco. Mexican media outlets reported burning vehicles and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states across the country, particularly in the north and west.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: CHARRED VEHICLES IN GUANAJUATO STATE, OAXACA STATE / DAMAGED STORE / SOUNDBITE FROM LOCAL RESIDENT / SCREENSHOT OF POST ON X FROM GOVERNOR OF GUANAJUATO

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: JUCHITAN, OAXACA, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 22, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE FILMING BUS ABLAZE IN STREET

2. PLUME OF SMOKE

3. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS PUTTING OUT FLAMES OF BUS ABLAZE

LEON, GUANAJUATO, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 22, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT, MARIA DURAN, SAYING:

"Look, now we're scared. We only go out when it's necessary because people don't know whether to go out or what to do."

MOROLEON, GUANAJUATO, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 22, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

5. VARIOUS OF CHARRED TRUCK

6. POLICE VEHICLE WITH SIREN ON

YURIRIA, GUANAJUATO, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 22, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

7. VEHICLE ABLAZE IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD

8. FIREFIGHTERS WORKING ON VEHICLE

LEON, GUANAJUATO, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 22, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT, MARIA DURAN, SAYING:

"We have the peace of mind of not being so close to them. It's good that they're finishing with all these organizations, but there's fear because of these situations that are happening now. You don't know how to react or what to do at these moments."

10. VARIOUS OF VANDALIZED STORE CORDONED-OFF

11. POLICE OUTSIDE STORE

SALAMANCA, GUANAJUATO, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 22, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

12. FIREFIGHTER GETTING ON TRUCK

13. POLICE AT CORDONED-OFF AREA WITH CHARRED BUS IN BACKGROUND

INTERNET (FEBRUARY 22, 2026) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE – Access all) (MUTE)

14. SCREENSHOT OF POST ON X FROM GOVERNOR OF GUANAJUATO, LIBIA DENNISE GARCIA MUNOZ LEDO, READING (Spanish):

“From early on, we have been gathered in the Permanent Session of the Operational Intelligence Group, and in a moment we shall share a message with all of you.”