An explosive device detonated in a western region of Mexico, resulting in the deaths of six soldiers and injuring two others, according to an official military report obtained by AFP. The incident occurred late Tuesday near a town in Michoacan state, where a military armored vehicle was destroyed by the blast.
Following the explosion, military aircraft and helicopters were promptly dispatched to provide assistance to the injured personnel, as detailed in the internal document. The tragic loss drew immediate attention from President Claudia Sheinbaum, who condemned the incident as “deplorable” and offered her condolences to the victims’ families.
Michoacan state has been notorious for its ongoing violence, primarily driven by criminal organizations battling for control over drug trafficking routes. Local criminals have resorted to using improvised landmines and deploying drones armed with explosives to target security forces, reflecting the increasingly dangerous tactics employed in these conflicts. Similar attacks in the past have led to the deaths of numerous military personnel.
The broader context of the violence in Mexico is stark, with approximately 480,000 lives lost to criminal violence since 2006, along with over 120,000 individuals reported missing. This grim statistic highlights the severe impact of ongoing drug-related conflicts in the region.
In a related move, US President Donald Trump has classified six Mexican drug trafficking organizations as terrorist entities, a designation that has sparked discussions about potential military interventions against these groups.
