Mexican security forces killed 11 gunmen during a high-speed chase and gunfight in northeastern Mexico on Wednesday as part of ongoing efforts to curb cartel-related violence.
According to a statement from the Nuevo Leon state government, one armed suspect was also arrested, and several weapons and vehicles were confiscated during the operation.
The confrontation occurred after security personnel launched a manhunt, both on the ground and by air, in response to an attack on a command post. No casualties were reported among the security forces.
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The armed conflict intensified when authorities pursued a convoy of around eight pickup trucks in the municipality of Los Ramones, leading to a violent shootout that left 11 suspected criminals dead.
The arrested individual was found on a highway, dressed in camouflage and carrying tactical gear and weapons, according to the official report.
Clashes between Mexican security forces and cartel members have become routine, as criminal violence linked to drug cartels and gangs has claimed over 450,000 lives since 2006.
The northwestern state of Sinaloa, home to one of Mexico's most notorious cartels, has seen a surge in violence this month due to internal conflicts, following the July arrest of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in the U.S. His capture has sparked a power struggle within the cartel.
As President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador nears the end of his term, his "hugs not bullets" strategy, focused on addressing poverty and inequality to reduce crime, continues to spark debate over its effectiveness in combating cartel violence.
