Modern warfare consists of different types and concepts. Armed conflicts contain the characteristics of asymmetric, guerrilla, information and cyber warfare. They have become increasingly decentralized and without a defined battlefield, blurring the boundaries between war and politics, conflict and peace, and soldiers and civilians. The Mexican Drug War is an internal conflict that officially began on 11 December 2006 with the military intervention in the state of Michoacán. It is a decisive action by the Mexican government against drug cartels that pose a threat to national security and the legitimacy of the state. Drug cartels have a lot of power and influence in Mexican society, which has resulted in a high level of crime and political corruption. The Mexican Drug War is a complex modern conflict, because it contains various concepts and types of warfare, and is unpredictable due to its dynamics and intensity. Drug cartels have proved to be a sophisticated opponent because they use various tactics and methods which are similar to those used by foreign terrorist or insurgency groups. Ambushes, assassinations, kidnappings and executions are a trademark of Mexican drug cartels. They also show certain social and political ambitions that are spreading with narco-culture and influencing state politics through bribery and extortion.
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