Overview
- An Army Special Forces contingent of 180 Murciélagos has been inserted into Tepalcatepec, Buenavista, Apatzingán, Tumbiscatío and La Huacana.
- The move builds on a Nov. 8 rollout of roughly 1,980 National Guard and Army personnel supported by five Air Force helicopters.
- Authorities describe a shift to specialized, targeted actions to cut cartel operations and protect civilians following high‑profile killings including Mayor Carlos Manzo and agribusiness leader Bernardo Bravo.
- Military reporting cites CJNG’s spread from Tepalcatepec across Tierra Caliente and ongoing clashes with the Cárteles Unidos coalition led by Juan José Álvarez Farías, with other groups active near the Lázaro Cárdenas port.
- The Murciélagos train for night operations, infiltration, sniping, explosives and mountain combat, with reporting noting use of tactical drones, anti‑drone systems and mine‑clearance assets.