Sinaloa cartel fighting in northern Mexico leaves at least 30 dead

At least 30 people have been killed in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa in the past two weeks as rival factions of the powerful Sinaloa cartel continue to clash. Mexican Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval confirmed Tuesday that two military personnel had been killed.

The fighting began on September 9, despite the presence of more than 2,000 security forces in the area.

The violence escalated after Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, arrived in the U.S. on July 25. He landed near El Paso, Texas, along with Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the cartel’s most senior leader. Zambada claimed after his arrest that he had been kidnapped by Guzmán López and brought to the U.S. against his will.

Now a power struggle appears to be brewing between the sons of El Chapo, known as “the Chapitos,” and those loyal to Zambada. The violence in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, has paralyzed the city. Schools are closed, businesses are shuttered and transportation is scarce as residents fear being caught in the crossfire.

The recent clashes are just one example of the increasing violence in Mexico. Cartels have adopted more sophisticated warfare tactics, including the use of roadside bombs, trenches, homemade armored vehicles and even drones that can drop bombs.

Since last week, Culiacán has experienced a wave of fear and chaos. Governor Rubén Rocha suspended schools and Mexican Independence Day festivities over the weekend. Schools resumed on Tuesday, but tensions remain high.

To restore order, Sandoval said 2,200 military and National Guard troops were being sent to bolster security in the area. He did not rule out sending more troops if needed.

However, Jesús Leana Ojeda, the commander of the regional army, acknowledged that the army alone cannot calm the situation.

“It depends on the antagonistic groups to stop confronting each other,” he said at a news conference. “We are there precisely to prevent them from confronting and losing lives.”

Despite the increased military presence, the situation is unstable. Outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the armed forces were working to protect the population and prevent clashes.

Throughout his presidency, López Obrador has pushed his “hugs, not bullets” policy, which seeks to avoid direct confrontations with the cartels. His strategy focuses on tackling the root causes of crime, by offering job training programs to help young people avoid being recruited by criminal organizations.

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum has said she will maintain López Obrador’s security approach, but the ongoing violence highlights the government’s difficulties in combating organized crime.

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press.