Cartel Down Mexican Military Helicopter in Day of Violence that Left 7 Dead

The Mexican state of Jalisco has been ripped by violence between the government and cartels so dramatic that a military helicopter was shot to the ground.

The Guardian reported that the violence was the result of a military operation against drug cartels that began on one of the holiday weekends when Mexicans travel the most. Among the destruction was an attack on a military helicopter that forced it to make a crash landing and  resulted in the deaths of three soldiers. Ten other soldiers and two members of the federal police were also injured in the crash landing. Three other soldiers also believed to have been riding in the chopper have not yet been located.

The highways between the Jalisco cities of Guadalajara and Leon became impassable after cartel members seized a number of buses and trucks and set them on fire in order to close the roads and impede the movement of government forces. In all, 39 roadblocks were recorded in 25 different towns and cities.

In addition to those attacks, 11 banks and five gas stations were firebombed in nearly simultaneous attacks.

It is unclear which cartel the government is targeting in the military operation known as Operation Jalisco. Observers believe the target is the Jalisco New Generation cartel, which recently ambushed and killed 15 members of the federal police kill. The cartel also recently tried to assassinate the head of Jalisco state's security operations.

Whoever the target of Operation Jalisco may be, the stated purpose of it is to arrest and eradicated every member of the cartel.

In all, the violence in Jalisco claimed seven lives including the three soldiers in the helicopter crash, a police officer, two suspected criminals, and a civilian.