Mexican troops killed 12 gunman in the border town of Miguel Alemán Sunday night.

According to the security department of Tamaulipas, the state that includes Miguel Alemán, Mexican troops were "attacked by armed civilians" around 2 p.m. local time. A shootout ensued, which saw the 12 gunmen killed.

A government source told AFP that the attackers were alleged members of a drug cartel. In responding to the assailants, the troops used military drones and a helicopter.

Authorities recovered a dozen rifles, as well as cartridges and magazines "of various calibers" following the shootout.

The University of Texas notes that the state of Tamaulipas is home to the Gulf Cartel, which has operated in the region for nearly 100 years trafficking drugs, and which controls the border cities of Matamoros and Reynosa.

The border state of Tamaulipas, and the township of Miguel Alemán, have been among the most impacted by organized crime and violence in Mexico. In September, several Americans were caught in the crossfire during a shooting between rival drug cartels in Miguel Alemán. Seven people were hurt after gunmen approached cars on the bridge between the Mexican city and Roma, and opened fire. Months earlier, in March of 2023, four Americans were kidnapped in the city of Matamoros in Tamaulipas near the southernmost tip of the Texas border. They were roadtripping to the country for cosmetic surgery. Two died and two survivors were found and returned to the United States. The Scorpions faction of the Gulf Cartel later apologized for the kidnapping and turned over the five members said to be involved to authorities. -Forbes

In July, 27 bodies were found in Reynosa in unmarked graves.

Mexico has counted more than 420,000 murders and 110,000 disappearances since the launch of a controversial military anti-drug offense which began in 2006.