DEVELOPING: CJNG cartel members attacked Guadalajara International Airport with gunfire and forced evacuations between 6:15 PM and 6:45 PM UTC on February 22, 2026, amid reports of shootouts in at least four areas, major fires, and blockades across Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Oaxaca, as retaliation for the federal elimination of leader El Mencho earlier today in Tapalpa, according to FaytuksNetwork, All_Source_News, and LĂłpez-DĂłriga on X. Security at Guadalajara International Airport was reinforced with no cancellations reported, despite chaos from shots fired and people running for safety, per Nncim15, Abzebel, and lopez doriga on X; Puerto Vallarta Airport faced international airline suspensions. The U.S. Embassy issued a security alert urging Americans in Jalisco (including Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta), Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo LeĂłn to shelter in place due to road blockages and criminal activity, as stated by sentdefender and TravelGov on X. In LeĂłn, Guanajuato, a car burned at Aeropuerto Boulevard and Delta Boulevard, businesses closed on Miguel Alemán Avenue, and non-essential businesses shut in Tizápan, Jalisco, with citizens advised to stay indoors, according to luz_adriana_gto, Worldsource24, and yoshii63 on X. CJNG Delta faction messages declared a war path to avenge El Mencho, per All_Source_News, while tire spikes scattered on Puerto Vallarta highways and fires near Costco continued, as reported by L_ThinkTank and AZ_Intel_. Additional incidents included security alerts at Santa Anita Market, an attack with explosives on a National Guard base in San Juan de los Lagos, and roadblocks on Oaxaca highways from Juchitán to La Ventosa and MatĂas Romero, per zona3noticias, Zulu, and Eco1_LVM on X. These developments build on prior CJNG vehicle burnings, airport attacks, and blockades in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta reported earlier today.
