U.S. and Mexican Officials Deny C.I.A. Had Lethal Role in Mexico Operation
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The CIA provided intelligence and planning support for a recent operation targeting cartel operative Francisco Beltran in Mexico but was not physically present during the attack.
- Beltran was killed in March when an explosive detonated in his car near Mexico City, an incident widely reported as a targeted assassination.
- CNN reported that the CIA has been involved in multiple deadly attacks on Mexican cartel members since last year, with varying levels of agency involvement.
- According to former officials, the CIA contributed intelligence on Beltran’s location and participated in planning, but did not advise Mexican authorities on-site during the operation.
- The details were shared anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the intelligence and operation.