Mexico is supported by the United States in this conflict through the Mérida Initiative.
On 30 November 2019, a shootout broke out in Villa Unión, Coahuila between a cartel, suspected to be the Cartel del Noreste, and police.[1] Cartel forces attacked with a convoy of armed pickup trucks around noon. Villa Unión's town hall, the intended target of the attack, was fired upon as it is the headquarters of the town's police force, leaving it badly damaged.[2] Unverified videos showed smoke rising from the city.[3] Vehicles were stolen and several civilians were kidnapped by the cartel during its retreat.[4] In the following days, state forces hunted down cartel forces responsible for the attack, with 7 militants being killed on 1 December.[5]
