Mexican president blames the US for bloodshed

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has blamed the United States for a surge in cartel violence in the northern state of Sinaloa, where at least 30 people have been killed in the past week. The unrest stems from clashes between two factions of the Sinaloa cartel in the state capital, Culiacan, following the arrests of two of its leaders in the U.S. in late July. López Obrador criticized the U.S. operation to capture Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a key cartel leader, calling it illegal and accusing American authorities of acting unilaterally without collaboration. The violence has disrupted daily life in Culiacan, with residents fearing for their safety, schools partially closed, and businesses shutting early. The situation has escalated tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, especially as López Obrador’s “hugs not bullets” strategy faces criticism for failing to curb cartel violence. Despite his calls for the cartels to act responsibly, the bloodshed continues, highlighting the ongoing challenges in addressing organized crime.

Source: AP News