U.S. consulate on alert after firefight leaves four dead at Mexico's northern border

Confrontations erupted across various areas of Matamoros, situated in the Tamaulipas state along Mexico's northern border, on Monday, resulting in the deaths of four suspected criminals. The incidents also sparked concerns at the U.S. Consulate located in the city.

These confrontations followed an operation conducted by the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) and the General Prosecutor's Office in Matamoros, according to a spokesperson from Tamaulipas Security.

This operation was initiated as a response to ongoing investigations into alleged kidnapping cases within the border city, which had reported 659 homicides and over 2,254 injuries since last July, according to official statistics.

"The aforementioned events led to clashes between civilians and the mentioned authorities, who secured weapons, radio communication equipment, and successfully neutralized four individuals," the spokesperson said to EFE. 

These developments prompted the United States Consulate General in Matamoros to activate an alert and advise its employees to remain sheltered "due to the ongoing armed violence in the city."

"We recommend that you stay at home and stay updated with local news for information specific to your area," the consulate communicated through the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).

One of the gunfights occurred in the Mariano Matamoros neighborhood along Naranjos Avenue, where the Armed Forces of Semar confronted a criminal group.

During the clash, the criminals were fatally wounded by Mexican Navy personnel who countered the attack using firearms and an armored vehicle equipped with weaponry.

Moreover, multiple users on the X social media platform documented the presence of a Mexican Navy Secretariat helicopter hovering over Matamoros, as well as its subsequent descent and landing in the Valle de los Reyes neighborhood.