Mexican officials verify assaults on army and road blockages in northern Sinaloa province.

The Mexican authorities in Sinaloa state reported incidents of attacks on military personnel and roads being blocked with vehicles in the northern region, just above the state capital of Culiacan. This area is known for being the territory of the Sinaloa drug cartel, where violent outbreaks have occurred in the past following the arrest of cartel leaders. Despite these events, federal authorities stated they did not have immediate information regarding any recent arrests.
Images circulating in local media displayed burning vehicles obstructing roads, although official confirmation of these events was not provided. The Sinaloa state police department acknowledged the attacks on military personnel and the blockades on roads via their social media channels. Governor Rubén Rocha mentioned in a statement that attackers had set two vehicles on fire in an attempt to impede authorities.
Footage and photographs from local media depicted the vehicles engulfed in flames, a tactic frequently employed by Mexican cartels to hinder the advance of law enforcement or military forces in a given area. Concerns have arisen about the potential escalation of violence in Sinaloa following the apprehension of prominent drug lords associated with the region.
In a recent incident in late July, Joaquín Guzmán López, son of the incarcerated drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, allegedly abducted Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, an older leader from a rival faction within the cartel, forcing him onto a plane and transporting him northward. Guzmán had purportedly intended to surrender himself, bringing Zambada along for unknown reasons.