Texas Rancher Killed by Cartel IED Near U.S.-Mexico Border

A Texas rancher, Antonio Céspedes Saldierna, was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) near the U.S.-Mexico border in Tamaulipas, Mexico, an area plagued by cartel violence. The explosion also claimed the life of Horacio Lopez Peña and injured his wife, Ninfa Griselda Ortega. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller highlighted the incident as a sign of escalating threats from Mexican cartels and urged caution among farmers and ranchers operating near the border. The U.S. State Department has issued a 'Do Not Travel' advisory for Tamaulipas due to the violence. The incident underscores the ongoing danger posed by cartels, which use IEDs to control territories. The rancher's son, a U.S. Army veteran, called the attack a form of terrorism akin to what he faced during his military service.