Infamous Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho”, has been buried in a gold-coloured coffin during a heavily guarded funeral in western Mexico.

The 59-year-old founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) died after being wounded in a firefight between his bodyguards and Mexican special forces deployed to capture him in late February.

Long regarded as Mexico’s most-wanted man, Oseguera was also the subject of a $15m reward offered by the US Department of State for information leading to his arrest.

His death sparked a wave of retaliatory violence across at least 20 Mexican states, with cartel members reportedly setting vehicles ablaze and blockading major roads.

The funeral took place near Guadalajara in Jalisco, a longstanding stronghold of the CJNG. Members of Mexico’s National Guard were deployed in force to deter further unrest during the ceremony.

Large floral arrangements were delivered ahead of the service, including a tribute shaped like a rooster — a nod to Oseguera’s reported passion for cockfighting.

The procession featured a live band playing ranchero music and narcocorridos, a genre known for songs that glorify drug traffickers. Local media reported that the traditional song El Muchacho Alegre was performed as the coffin arrived at a chapel within the cemetery grounds.

After a ceremony lasting about an hour, mourners — many wearing face masks to conceal their identities — followed the casket to the graveside.

The United States embassy in Saudi Arabia has issued an urgent security alert warning of potential imminent missile and drone attacks over the eastern city of Dhahran.

US citizens in the area have been instructed to shelter in place and review emergency security procedures. Dhahran, located on Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich eastern coast, hosts a US consulate and is home to the headquarters of state energy giant Saudi Aramco, making it a strategically sensitive location.

The warning comes as hostilities between the US, Israel and Iran intensify. US President Donald Trump said it was now “too late” for talks with Tehran, reinforcing Washington’s hardening stance amid continued military operations.

Meanwhile, Pakistan confirmed that at least 300 Iranian nationals have crossed into its territory as Israeli and US strikes continue across Iran. The southwestern province of Balochistan, which borders Iran, has long been volatile due to separatist insurgencies and security challenges.

Islamabad faces a delicate balancing act. While relations with Washington have strengthened in recent years — including Pakistan’s nomination of President Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize — domestic dynamics are complex. Although Pakistan is a Sunni-majority nation, it has significant Shia communities, many of whom oppose military action against Iran.

Elsewhere in the Gulf, the media office in Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates reported that debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire. Authorities said the blaze was quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported.

Airlines across the Middle East and beyond are cancelling and diverting flights following military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, with the ripple effects now significantly impacting global travel.

Flights have been suspended in and out of key regional hubs including Tel Aviv, Dubai and Doha as airspace closures continue amid escalating security concerns.

The UK’s Foreign Office has issued updated travel guidance, advising against all but essential travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, urging British nationals already in these countries to remain sheltered.

Iran has launched retaliatory attacks across Gulf states in response to the strikes that began early Saturday, prompting widespread disruption to long-haul routes. Heathrow Airport has advised passengers to check with airlines as delays and cancellations continue.

British officials are reportedly preparing contingency plans to evacuate UK nationals, though timelines remain uncertain due to extensive airspace closures.

Major carriers have already suspended operations. Emirates halted flights to and from Dubai until Monday afternoon local time, while Etihad Airways paused departures from Abu Dhabi.

There have also been casualties linked to the unfolding crisis, with one person killed and 11 injured at airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Among the injured were staff at Dubai International Airport.

British Airways has cancelled services to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until Wednesday and warned that routes between Heathrow and destinations including Abu Dhabi, Amman, Doha and Dubai could be disrupted for days.

Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic has suspended flights to Riyadh and Dubai, noting that journeys to destinations such as India, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives may take longer as aircraft are rerouted.

Airspace over Iran, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria and the UAE remains closed, while Saudi Arabia has implemented partial restrictions. Though Jordan and Lebanon remain open, flight activity there is limited.

Qatar Airways said its operations remain temporarily suspended following the closure of Qatari airspace.

Explosions have been reported in multiple locations, including at Erbil airport in Iraq, while Gulf states including the UAE and Qatar say they have intercepted Iranian missiles and drones.

The UK has also expanded its travel warnings, advising against all travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories, and urging caution across several other countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed British aircraft are participating in defensive operations in the region, following discussions with US President Donald Trump.

With large sections of Middle Eastern airspace still restricted, uncertainty continues for travellers worldwide as the security situation evolves.