Thirteen suspected cartel members were killed Monday in a shootout with authorities in Guasave, Sinaloa, while four others were arrested and nine kidnapped victims rescued.

The clash began when security forces on patrol were attacked by gunmen hiding under a bridge.

Authorities seized seven vehicles, high-powered weapons, and tactical gear following the firefight.

Sinaloa has been engulfed in a violent internal war within a major cartel since the July 2024 capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, pitting his loyalists against the “Chapitos,” sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, CBS News has reported.

The conflict has included extreme torture methods and public displays of bodies, with over 1,700 killed and nearly 2,000 missing amid the ongoing factional violence.