Did the United States play a role in El Mencho’s killing? What does the White House say?

White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said on social media platform X that although the operation was conducted at the direction of the Mexican government, the Trump administration did provide intelligence support. Follow live updates on the conflict in Mexico here

“El Mencho” is a top target of the Mexican and U.S. governments because it is one of the largest traffickers of fentanyl into our home country. Last year, President Trump correctly designated the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel a foreign terrorist organization—because that’s what it is. Three other cartel members were killed, three were injured and two were arrested during the operation,” Levitt wrote on X.

The White House press secretary added that the Trump administration welcomed the operation and “commends and thanks the Mexican military for its cooperation and the successful execution of this operation.”

A report preceded the press secretary’s statement. ReutersA U.S.-led task force compiled a detailed targeting package for drug lords and later handed it over to the Mexican government, U.S. Defense Department officials were quoted as saying.

The task force – the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force Against Cartels – was formally established last month, Reuters reported.

The task force, which involves multiple U.S. government agencies, aims to identify networks of drug cartel members on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Mexico said Washington played no role in the operation other than U.S. intelligence support.

Oseguera Cervantes was seriously injured during the operation and died en route to Mexico City, according to a statement from the Mexican Defense Ministry.

The operation triggered a wave of violence and clashes across Mexican states, with cartels setting fire to cars and arranging for gunmen to block highways.

Some countries, e.g. United States, Canada and India A “shelter” advisory has been issued to its citizens in Mexico.