Army Day raid spurs Reynosa firefight

Citizens of Reynosa awoke to the sound of gunfire Sunday morning.

The city had been in a relative state of calm for more than two weeks, but on the day that Mexico observed Army Day, a military operation targeting a Gulf Cartel security house led to the firefight, said sources familiar with the incident.

Military officials did not release information on the case, but a Mexican law enforcement official said the shootout followed a raid at a house on Boulevard del Maestro, a major avenue on the city’s south side.

The military was trying to capture a Gulf Cartel lieutenant, said a source outside law enforcement familiar with organized crime in Mexico. The subsequent firefight, which stretched from just before 6 to about 9 a.m., spread through nearby areas and prompted the military to deploy helicopters to provide cover for the troops on the ground.

It could not be confirmed whether the military arrested anyone, or whether anyone was killed.

The city’s Twitter account — @dirdegobreynosa — didn’t issue any alerts to its citizens during the firefight. The account, which was set up for the purpose of warning citizens of situations of risk, provided bridge wait times and other city-related event info Sunday.