Mexican soldiers and police killed 9 suspected gunmen in shootouts near the U.S. border Thursday.
The government of the northern border state of Coahuila said state police officers came under fire while patrolling a dirt road southwest of the border city of Nuevo Laredo.
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WATCH HEREThe state said that soldiers were called in for reinforcement and that they pursued and killed the attackers following a confrontation.
Of the two vehicles found at the scene, one was a truck fitted with homemade steel-plate armor. Such trucks, known as "monsters," are often used by drug gangs in the region.
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SIGN UP The state government said 10 weapons were found at the scene, including a .50-caliber sniper rifle.
