• Over 130 people killed in a police raid targeting the Red Command drug gang in Rio de Janeiro.
• The operation has sparked nationwide protests and calls for accountability from the state government.
• Bodies of many victims found in a forested area, with reports of torture and execution-style deaths.
• International organizations, including the UN, have voiced concerns over police brutality during the operation.
• Brazil's President Lula has called for a reevaluation of the use of force in anti-crime operations.

A massive police operation targeting the notorious Red Command drug gang in Rio de Janeiro has resulted in a staggering death toll, with initial estimates ranging from 119 to over 132 fatalities, marking it as one of Brazil’s deadliest police actions in history. The raid, which involved approximately 2,500 police and military personnel, began early Tuesday and was meant to dismantle the gang's influence in the favelas of Complexo do Alemao and Penha, leading to intense gunfire and chaos throughout the affected neighborhoods. In the aftermath, local residents lined up streets with dozens of bodies, raising significant public outcry and calls for accountability from Governor Cláudio Castro, who labeled the operation a success despite the loss of life, according to SCMP, India Times, and CBS News.

Residents and community leaders have described scenes of carnage, with reports indicating that many of the deceased showed signs of execution-style killings, including binding and torture marks, stirring protests and calls for human rights investigations. Prominent figures, such as community activist Rute Sales, have condemned the operation, calling it a "massacre" and demanding justice for the victims, according to Africa News, Al Jazeera, and LA Times.

The Brazilian government's response has included promises of investigations into potential police misconduct. Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski criticized the operation as excessively violent, expressing concern over the heavy casualties and calling for better coordination to prevent civilian and police casualties in future raids. Explaining that the raid was executed without federal oversight, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva remarked, "The Brazilian government does not tolerate criminal organizations and acts to combat them with ever greater vigor," stressing the need for reforms in police operations, according to Reuters and Africa News.

The scale of the violence has prompted criticism from international human rights organizations, including the UN. They have urged Brazilian authorities to assess how operations are conducted and to abide by international law standards regarding the use of force. The UN Human Rights Office expressed concern about ongoing "extreme brutality" in law enforcement practices in Brazil, insisting on the need to reevaluate policing strategies in communities disproportionately affected by violence, according to India Times, CBS News, and Reuters.