Mexico drug war: 11 killed in shootout between gunmen and soldiers in Guerrero state
More than 50,000 people in Mexico have been killed in drug-related violence in the past six years.
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Eleven people were killed in a shootout between suspected drug traffickers and soldiers in southwestern Mexico today, Reuters reported.
According to CNN Mexico, one soldier was among the dead.
The gun battle took place near a church in the town of Tepecoacuilco de Trujano in violence-hit Guerrero state, about 120 miles (200 kilometers) south of Mexico City, the Associated Press reported.
Reuters said the firefight started after an armed group ambushed soldiers on patrol. It is not known which gang the attackers belong to.
Guerrero is home to the popular resort city of Acapulco and has been the scene of an increasingly violent war between rival drug gangs fighting over turf and smuggling routes.
Earlier this month, 16 bodies were found dumped in a pick-up truck in Coyuca de Catalan, a city in Guerrero.
The AP has previously reported that the area is a battleground between rival drug cartels including La Familia Michoacana and the breakaway Knights Templar.
More from GlobalPost: Mexico: 35 police officers arrested for drug cartel links
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