WATCH: Ferocious Cartel Gun Battle at Rio Grande

A blistering cartel shootout unfolded in Mexico less than a mile from the Rio Grande this week, according to authorities.

Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) published aerial footage of ferocious warfare waged on Wednesday in the Mexican border town of Rio Bravo, just miles from Donna and McAllen, TX.

“TxDPS Aircraft Operations captures thermal video of an intense gun battle across Donna, Texas [RGV] in Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, less than one mile from the Rio Grande,” TxDPS spokesman Lt. Chris Olivarez explained in a statement on Thursday.

“The first video shows what appears to be an explosive thrown out from one of the vehicles. For decades, the Gulf Cartel has maintained control of the area, but there has been an ongoing battle between factions of the Gulf Cartel over control of drug & human smuggling routes.”

Cartel operatives can be seen firing high-powered weapons from inside pickup trucks.

In one shot, a man sprints from one truck to another before diving in.