Fact check: What is the total number of US airstrikes conducted against cartel targets in 2023 and 2024?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, none of the sources contain information about the total number of US airstrikes conducted against cartel targets in 2023 and 2024 ^{[1] [2] [3]}. The sources examined focus on discussions and proposals regarding potential drone strikes against Mexican cartels, but they do not provide actual operational data or statistics about completed airstrikes during the specified timeframe.

The sources appear to discuss the Trump administration's consideration of drone strikes against cartels ^[1], opinions on how such strikes could impact cartel violence ^[2], and military options for addressing border threats ^[3], but none provide the concrete numerical data requested in the original question.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The question assumes that US airstrikes against cartel targets occurred in 2023 and 2024, but the analyses suggest this may be based on policy discussions rather than actual operations. Several important contextual elements are missing:

• Legal and sovereignty considerations: Cross-border military operations would require either Mexican government consent or represent a significant escalation in US-Mexico relations
• Operational secrecy: If such strikes occurred, they might be classified and not publicly reported
• Alternative enforcement methods: The focus on airstrikes overlooks other counter-cartel operations such as financial sanctions, intelligence sharing, and law enforcement cooperation
• Mexican government perspective: Any US military action on Mexican soil would likely generate significant diplomatic tensions

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains a presumptive bias by asking for a "total number" of airstrikes, which implies that such operations definitively occurred in 2023 and 2024. This framing could:

• Spread false information by suggesting confirmed military operations that may not have taken place
• Influence public perception to believe that the US has been conducting active military operations against cartels
• Benefit political narratives that favor aggressive military intervention policies, particularly those who advocate for expanded executive military powers

The question's structure assumes facts not in evidence and could mislead readers into believing that documented US airstrikes against cartel targets occurred during this period, when the available sources only discuss proposals and policy considerations rather than actual operations.